Air Quality Declines as Wildfires Spread

Residents of the northwest Valley could smell smoke from area wildfires in the air Friday afternoon as measurements by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) indicated trouble for those in sensitive groups.

By 3 p.m. the air quality in most of the San Fernando Valley slipped from Good to Moderate. And the further north you travel, the more unhealthy the air becomes for sensitive individuals.

The AQMD advises that "In areas that experience Unhealthy air quality and those directly impacted by smoke:  Everyone should avoid any vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should remain indoors.  Keep your windows and doors closed unless it is extremely hot inside.  In these cases, seek alternate shelter.  Run your air conditioner if you have one.  Keep the fresh air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent bringing additional smoke inside."  

For regularly updated air quality information, see the air quality map at www.aqmd.gov.  For more tips on avoiding health impacts from the smoke, see http://www.aqmd.gov/ej/CAC/wildfire_safety_tips.htm.