Air quality alert issued across Southern California due to smoke from fireworks and wildfires
The South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) announced the alert on Friday, July 4, warning that elevated pollution levels would persist through Saturday night, July 5, due to smoke from Independence Day celebrations and wildfires in parts of Los Angeles County and beyond.
The alert applied to most of Los Angeles and Orange Counties, the Inland Empire, Santa Clarita, and the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains. Officials said pollution levels could vary by time and location depending on emissions and local weather conditions.
Smoke from fireworks was expected to affect the region from 5:00 p.m. Friday through 11:59 p.m. Saturday. Wildfire smoke in mountain areas was projected to impact air quality from midnight Friday through 10:00 p.m. Saturday.
Health officials warned that fine particle pollution can penetrate deep into the lungs and may lead to serious health problems, including asthma attacks, bronchitis, heart attacks, and difficulty breathing. While anyone can be affected, sensitive groups are at higher risk.
Residents were urged to monitor the Air Quality Index (AQI) and adjust their activities accordingly:
When AQI reaches the 'Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups' (orange) level, vulnerable individuals should limit prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity.
At the 'Unhealthy' (red) level, everyone may experience health effects, and sensitive groups should avoid extended time outdoors.
When levels are 'Very Unhealthy' (purple), sensitive groups should avoid all outdoor activity, and others should limit outdoor exposure.
At the 'Hazardous' (maroon) level, all individuals are advised to stay indoors and avoid outdoor physical activity entirely.
To reduce indoor exposure, officials recommended keeping windows and doors closed, using air conditioners or air purifiers, and avoiding the use of fireplaces, candles, incense, or gasoline-powered equipment. If possible, residents should avoid using swamp coolers or whole house fans that draw in outside air.
Residents in the Los Angeles Basin, San Bernardino Valley, San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains, Orange County, and Riverside County can check real-time air quality levels and forecasts by visiting the South Coast AQMD website at www.aqmd.gov or by downloading the mobile app at www.aqmd.gov/mobileapp.
For those in the Antelope Valley, updates are available at www.avaqmd.ca.gov. In the Mojave Desert, current conditions and advisories can be found at www.mdaqmd.ca.gov.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Researchers raise red flags over cancer-causing threat lurking in crucial waterways: 'Could trigger a public health crisis'
We know that microplastics harm not only the environment and ecosystems but also our bodies. A recent study published in the Indian Journal of Medical and Paediatric Oncology, reported by The New Indian Express, explores this further. It warns that "an increase in pollution in water bodies could trigger a public health crisis, with cancer being one of the long-term consequences." The study links microplastic pollution in rivers, particularly the Ganges, to a rise in gallbladder cancer (GBC) in India. Researchers from Kerala medical colleges found that microplastics may have carcinogenic effects. These tiny particles can trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, immune system disruption, and gut microbiome changes, factors known to contribute to cancer development. The study also highlights that India produces around 15 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with only 25% being recycled. The rest breaks down into micro- or nanoplastics, which enter the food chain through water and marine life. As plastic pollution has increased, so have the cases of GBC. While rates in Kerala are still lower than in other areas, doctors there report a steady rise. This research serves as a clear warning: Unchecked pollution can lead to serious long-term health consequences, including cancer. The connection between microplastics and cancer isn't just alarming; it's a call to action. The impacts of microplastics go far beyond human health. They harm marine life, disrupt food webs, and damage biodiversity. On land, they affect soil quality and hinder plant growth, which can ultimately threaten our food supply. The damage caused by microplastics touches every part of our ecosystem, and the consequences are mounting. There are many ways to help combat plastic pollution. While individual efforts might seem small, collective action makes a difference. From reducing single-use plastics to participating in beach or park cleanups and recycling properly, every step counts. Even small changes can create a lasting impact, especially when we all get involved. How often do you worry about the quality of your drinking water? Never Sometimes Often Always Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Wildfires sweep through forests in drought-hit Syrian coast in major test for new government
Massive wildfires have torn through Syria's coastal mountain region of Jabal Turkman since Thursday, destroying thousands of hectares of forest and overwhelming emergency services. Abdel Kafi Kayyal, director of civil defense in Lattakia province, said efforts to control the fires have been hampered by strong winds, rugged terrain and the danger of landmines left behind from years of war. The fires come as Syria's new government tries to drive the country's recovery after more than a decade of war and crippling sanctions, with basic services non-existent in many parts of the country. The fires have burned along a line of 20-kilometers (12 miles), cutting off roads and forcing thousands to flee their homes. They have also left some areas without power. Drone video showed fires advancing along a broad front in rugged territory, occasionally flaring up as they encounter tinder-dry woodland. 'This fire is extremely difficult,' Kayyal told CNN on Saturday, adding that reinforcements have been called in from across the country. The fires have now spread into parts of Tartous province, despite the efforts of more than 60 firefighting units. Syrian authorities have appealed for international assistance. Turkey has sent two helicopters and 11 firefighting vehicles, and on Sunday Jordanian civil defense teams crossed the border to join efforts to contain the fires. Satellite data from NASA's FIRMS service indicates the burned area now exceeds 180 square kilometers, an area larger than the capital, Damascus. According to Syrian government figures from 2023, the country's forest cover stands at around 5,270 square kilometers, suggesting that these fires have consumed more than 3% of the country's total forested land in just three days. The country is also in the grip of a long-running drought. The Carnegie Endowment Middle East program reported last year that the entire Euphrates Basin region, particularly the southern and eastern desert areas of Syria, had suffered from low rainfall and exceptionally high temperatures for four years.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
UN teams deploy to Syrian coast as wildfires force hundreds to flee
LATAKIA, Syria (AP) — United Nations teams have deployed Sunday to the Syrian coast, where firefighters are battling wildfires for a fourth day. U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria Adam Abdelmoula said in a statement that the fast-spreading blazes in the northwestern province of Latakia 'have forced hundreds of families to flee their homes, while vast tracts of agricultural land and vital infrastructure have been destroyed.' U.N. teams are 'conducting urgent assessments to determine the scale of the disaster and to identify the most immediate humanitarian needs,' he said. Firefighting teams from Turkey and Jordan have joined Syrian civil defense teams, providing support from the air with helicopters. Syria's state-run SANA news agency reported that emergency crews are attempting to prevent the blazes from reaching the al-Frunloq natural reserve, with its 'large, interconnected forests.' Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh called the situation 'extremely tragic.' In a statement posted on X, he said the fires had destroyed 'hundreds of thousands of trees' covering an area estimated at 10,000 hectares. 'We regret and mourn every tree that burned, which was a source of fresh air for us,' al-Saleh said. The Syrian Civil Defense had expressed concerns over the presence of unexploded ordnance left over from the country's nearly 14-year civil war in some of the wildfire areas. Summer fires are common in the eastern Mediterranean region, where experts warn that climate change is intensifying conditions. Below-average rainfalls over the winter have also left Syrians struggling with water shortages this summer, as the springs and rivers that normally supply much of the population with drinking water have gone dry.
