When fires tear through Southern California, even areas that aren't under direct threat from the flames can get engulfed in smoke.
Public health officials said during January 2025's Palisades and Eaton fires that when fires get bad, they can cause "significant health and safety risks for residents."
Here's how to handle the poor air quality.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District monitors particulates in our region. (This is reflected in the Air Quality Index, or AQI.) SCAQMD says much of the Los Angeles basin’s air is unhealthy for sensitive people. And the closer you get to the fire, the worse it gets.
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For an up-to-date map of current conditions, go here.
See also: Does a ‘good’ Air Quality Index rating mean it’s safe to be outdoors?
Even if you don't live or work near a major fire, you can still be affected by smoke particles in the air. So, what's in that smoke, and how much should you worry about it?
Depending on the fire, the smoke can be made up of various substances, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, water vapor, particulate matter, organic chemicals, nitrogen oxides, and more. Exposure to smoke can cause a range of health effects, from eye and lung irritation to asthma and premature death.
Those especially sensitive to smoke include:
Particulate matter is the main public health threat during short-term exposure to wildfire smoke, so it's crucial to protect yourself.
See also: What parents should know about wildfire air quality, ash, and protecting kids
Thinking of going outside? Don't. It's best to stay inside with the air conditioner on. And you're going to want filtered air. Many evaporative cooling systems, aka "swamp coolers," don't filter the air.
Once you turn on the cool, filtered air, keep the doors and windows closed to keep the unhealthy air outside. You're also going to want to avoid vigorous activity — anything that makes you breathe deeply.
Do not use any indoor or outdoor wood-burning appliances or fireplaces. And when smoke subsides, you should air out your home to clear any polluted air that might be trapped inside.
But what if you're stuck in a car or driving through areas of smoke? Same deal. Close the windows and doors and run your car's air conditioner. AQMD says that carbon dioxide levels can spike quickly in newer cars if vents and windows are closed and the circulation setting is on, so crack the windows once you're in there for a while to prevent grogginess.
Here's advice from AQMD:
"Even in areas far from fires or areas not covered by a smoke advisory, if you can smell smoke or see ash from a wildfire, avoid or limit outdoor activities," the organization warned.
As our friends at NPR report, a recent study of smoke exposure from California wildfires between 2008 and 2018 estimated that as many as 55,710 premature deaths were attributable to wildfire-related PM2.5 in the air.
That particulate is notable, NPR reports, because:
Around 90% of wildfire smoke is made up of these particles, which are 30 times smaller than the diameter of a strand of hair. "PM2.5 particles can migrate deep into the lungs, and, from there, into the bloodstream, causing everything from inflammation to asthma attacks to sudden cardiac death," says Mary Johnson, a research scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who studies the health impacts of wildfires.While the premature death study looked at California, smoke from megafires can waft thousands of miles, putting people who aren't as aware of its risks in harm's way. "If you're in California or Texas, you're used to closing windows, staying inside, and turning on an air purifier when there's a wildfire," says Johnson. But as climate change makes large fires more frequent, everyone needs to be prepared to protect themselves.
Here are a selection of fire resources and tips.
If you have to evacuate
If you have more time:
Things to consider:
Navigating fire conditions
How to help yourself and others
Understanding how it got this bad
Previous reporting by Michelle Faust Raghavan, Michelle Lanz, Brian Frank and Megan Larson
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