South Coast AQMD has concluded its enhanced air monitoring efforts in response to the Los Angeles wildfires that occurred in January 2025. These efforts supported federal, state, and local emergency response activities, including the issuance of Executive Orders to allow the temporary use of emergency standby generators and the provision of technical guidance for cleanup and recovery operations.

Fixed and continuous real-time monitors were strategically deployed and collected data for particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), air toxics (such as lead and arsenic), and asbestos in communities near the burn zones.

Since South Coast AQMD’s 19-week expanded air monitoring effort began:

• A total of 5 monitoring sites were deployed.
• A total of 220 asbestos samples were collected
• A total of 215 air toxic metal samples were collected (33 air toxic metals were analyzed per sample).
• A total of 28,588 particulate matter (PM2.5 & PM10) data points were measured.

Monitoring results to date have not shown any levels of concern, even during peak debris removal periods. With the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers having substantially completed debris removal, South Coast AQMD officially concluded its expanded monitoring on July 8, 2025.

Residents in and around the burn areas are still encouraged to follow safety precautions from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to minimize potential exposure to ash, soot, and debris, particularly during periods of high winds. Recommended precautions include staying indoors, using air purifiers, and limiting outdoor physical activity when advisories are issued.

All monitoring data is available on the agency’s wildfire data dashboard.