Smoke, ash from fires prompts Riverside County health warning

Wildfires burning throughout Southern California were blanketing the skies Tuesday over the Inland Empire with smoke and ash, creating unhealthy air quality and prompting health warnings. 

Large blazes in western Riverside and San Bernardino counties have resulted in evacuations, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District has reported poor air quality resulting in “very unhealthy” conditions the region.

Smoke from wildfires can cause burning eyes, runny nose, shortness of breath, scratchy throat, headaches and chest pains, and it can also worsen chronic heart and lung disease, officials said.

“Residents, especially those with chronic health conditions, need to be aware of the risks of breathing unhealthy air and take steps to keep safe,” Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Geoffrey Leung said in a statement.

People who have a higher risk include pregnant women, children, older adults, first responders and those with chronic health conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, diabetes, kidney disease and heart disease. 

People in areas affected by smoke and ash should avoid strenuous activity, stay in air-conditioned rooms with windows and doors closed, Leung said, adding that indoor air can be kept fresh with a clean filtering system that prevents smoke from getting inside a building. 

Officials also stressed the importance of heeding evacuation instructions for residents in affected areas.

The 9,300-acre Airport Fire in Trabuco Canyon in eastern Orange County and the 26,000-acre Line Fire near Highland in San Bernardino County were causing heavy drift smoke throughout western Riverside County. The sun was obscured by ash and smoke in the Riverside metropolitan area around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to published reports.

Fire updates and registration for emergency alerts are available at RivCoReady.org.

Updated Sept. 10, 2024, 1:31 p.m.

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