CA
Unhealthful Air Quality Forecast Due To Sierra Madre Wildfire
Author: AQMD
Published on Apr 28, 2008 - 11:45:46 AM

Smoke from the Sierra Madre wildfire burning in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County is forecast to create unhealthy air quality today in the eastern San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County.

All individuals are urged to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities in the smoke-impacted areas and areas that can see and smell smoke.

Wildfires generate smoke containing fine particulates known as PM10 and PM2.5. Concentrations of fine particulates may reach the Unhealthy- Sensitive or higher level in the smoke impacted area.

What to Do When Air Pollution Reaches Unhealthy Levels

In areas with UNHEALTHY-SENSITIVE air quality, sensitive or susceptible persons, such as those with heart or lung disease, should minimize outdoor activity.

In areas with UNHEALTHY air quality, everyone should discontinue prolonged, vigorous outdoor exercise lasting longer than one hour. Examples of the kinds of outdoor activities that should be avoided are calisthenics, basketball, running, soccer, football, tennis, swimming laps, and water polo. Susceptible persons, such as those with heart or lung disease, should avoid outdoor activity entirely.

For more tips on avoiding health impacts from the smoke, see http://www.aqmd.gov/pubinfo/factsheets.htm on AQMD's website.

AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

Editor's note: For updates on the Santa Anita Fire near Sierra Madre, please visit our Fire News section.

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