Hazardous Air Quality: Wildfires Cover LA in Dangerous Smoke
Wildfires are enveloping Los Angeles in hazardous smoke, creating perilous breathing conditions for residents.
TroibNews 
Los Angeles was blanketed in thick smoke on Thursday as wildfires swept through Southern California, leading to school closures and health warnings as residents faced breathing difficulties.
"It's not breathable," Dulce Perez, a cook at Teddy's Cocina in Pasadena, told Reuters. "We just try to stay indoors."
Residents across the city were deeply concerned about air quality, which has at times become harmful due to the ash, soot, and smoke from wildfires that have already destroyed 10,000 structures.
Many big-box stores reported sold-out air purifiers, according to employees from four different retailers. Some residents resorted to taping windows to keep smoke from infiltrating their homes.
As of Friday, firefighters began to gain control of two major wildfires on the eastern and western sides of LA, thanks to a decrease in the fierce winds that had been enhancing the flames for several days.
While conditions improved, an air quality alert remained active until the evening, with dangerous particulate matter levels still about four times higher than World Health Organization recommendations.
Health risks are a significant concern. The fires, exacerbated by strong winds and fueled by severely dry vegetation from an extended period without rain, began on Tuesday and have burned over 137 square kilometers. Some neighborhoods have been reduced to ash.
Wildfire smoke often contains toxic gases and particulate matter, making it more harmful than typical air pollution. The destruction caused by wildfires impacts not only flora but also buildings, vehicles, and other materials that release plastics, fuels, metals, and various chemicals into the air.
Research has shown a correlation between wildfire smoke exposure and increased incidents of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiac arrests, as well as compromised immune systems.
"The levels of wildfire smoke we've seen in LA these past few days imply between a 5 to 15 percent increase in daily mortality," said Carlos Gould, an environmental health scientist at the University of California San Diego.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
"It's not breathable," Dulce Perez, a cook at Teddy's Cocina in Pasadena, told Reuters. "We just try to stay indoors."
Residents across the city were deeply concerned about air quality, which has at times become harmful due to the ash, soot, and smoke from wildfires that have already destroyed 10,000 structures.
Many big-box stores reported sold-out air purifiers, according to employees from four different retailers. Some residents resorted to taping windows to keep smoke from infiltrating their homes.
As of Friday, firefighters began to gain control of two major wildfires on the eastern and western sides of LA, thanks to a decrease in the fierce winds that had been enhancing the flames for several days.
While conditions improved, an air quality alert remained active until the evening, with dangerous particulate matter levels still about four times higher than World Health Organization recommendations.
Health risks are a significant concern. The fires, exacerbated by strong winds and fueled by severely dry vegetation from an extended period without rain, began on Tuesday and have burned over 137 square kilometers. Some neighborhoods have been reduced to ash.
Wildfire smoke often contains toxic gases and particulate matter, making it more harmful than typical air pollution. The destruction caused by wildfires impacts not only flora but also buildings, vehicles, and other materials that release plastics, fuels, metals, and various chemicals into the air.
Research has shown a correlation between wildfire smoke exposure and increased incidents of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiac arrests, as well as compromised immune systems.
"The levels of wildfire smoke we've seen in LA these past few days imply between a 5 to 15 percent increase in daily mortality," said Carlos Gould, an environmental health scientist at the University of California San Diego.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
