Officials deemed the air quality “unhealthy” in some areas of Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire on Tuesday as the effects of smog pollution were exacerbated by the ongoing heat wave, and the Radford and Fairview wildfires have been spewing smoke into the sky. In addition to an “ozone advisory,” the South Coast Air Quality Management District issued smoke advisories for any areas near the fires where smoke could be seen or smelled.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the deadly Fairview fire had burned 2,500 acres with 5% containment, while the Radford fire had grown to 450 acres overnight with no containment. Initial reports of both fires came in on Monday afternoon. Monday at 5 p.m., the AQMD reported that smoke-related air quality sensors in Hemet and Big Bear continued to read “good.”
In addition to the wildfires, the recent stretch of extreme heat prompted officials to extend the ozone advisory, which foresees an increase in poor air quality across some regions. The advisory, which was first issued on August 29, has now been extended through September 7 due to forecasters’ predictions that the significant cooling won’t start until later this week.
The San Bernardino valley and mountains are expected to experience “very unhealthy levels” of smog in the afternoons when temperatures soar into the triple digits. Smog is the primary summertime pollutant. Most inland areas, including Hemet, in the place, will likely have “unhealthy” air quality for sensitive groups. Asthmatics, pregnant women, children, and senior citizens are among the susceptible populations.
#AirQuality Forecast (Tuesday, September 6th): https://t.co/szsyGAFunD
🏖 Coastal: Good -to- Moderate
🏙 LA: Moderate -to- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
🌅 OC: Good -to- Moderate
🌄 Inland Empire: Good -to- Unhealthy
🌴 Coachella Valley: Moderate pic.twitter.com/bAEuFr04z1
— South Coast AQMD (@SouthCoastAQMD) September 6, 2022
Residents are advised to limit their exposure to the smoke by staying inside with closed windows and doors, finding shelter away from the fire’s affected areas, and refraining from strenuous physical activity.
