Southern California Air Quality Even Worse With Extreme Heat, Wildfires
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Southern Californians will probably want to stay inside Wednesday – not only are temperatures expected to hit triple digits again, the air quality will be unhealthy for all groups in several areas.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District says Wednesday's air quality will be especially bad in San Bernardino County, but it will also be unhealthy for everyone in East San Fernando Valley, East San Gabriel Valley, Pomona/Walnut Valley and San Gabriel Mountains.
Air quality tends to deteriorate in Southern California's hot summer months, but wildfires burning Azusa, Palmdale and Lake Piru have exacerbated the situation. People in communities adjacent to the wildfires have reported finding their yards and outdoor areas covered in soot.
It's good you're mostly upwind from the Ranch 2 fire. We're close enough to have the soot and ash on the cars - and the smoke has my allergies going crazy :(
— Thomas Krafft (@thomaskrafft) August 16, 2020
"People who have asthma, other types of reactive airway disease, those are patients who may be triggered with this air quality," said Dr. Bud Lawrence, the medical director of the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital's emergency room.
His prescription? "Definitely fluids, fluids, fluids. Do your best to stay hydrated as you can," Dr. Lawrence said.
Health officials recommended children not play outdoors in these conditions because their developing lungs are more susceptible to smoke.