LOS ANGELES, CA — The wildfires burning around Los Angeles have caused huge clouds of smoke, turning the air brown and making it hard to breathe. People across the city, including evacuees from the fires, are staying indoors to avoid the toxic air.
Smoky Air and Health Concerns
At Teddy’s Cocina in Pasadena, people who fled from the fires came in to eat, while others stayed inside to avoid the smoke. Dulce Perez, a cook at the restaurant, said, “It’s not breathable. We just try to stay indoors.” The air was so bad that it hurt people’s eyes and made it hard to breathe.
The air quality in the city was so poor that officials warned everyone to stay inside. Many schools canceled classes, and scientists said the smoke could even be dangerous enough to cause serious health problems, like heart attacks or strokes. The wildfires have already destroyed 10,000 homes and buildings.
How Wildfire Smoke Is Dangerous
The smoke from wildfires is not like regular air pollution. It carries harmful gases and tiny particles that can make it hard for people to breathe. Wildfires burn plants, trees, and houses, which can release chemicals, plastics, metals, and other harmful substances into the air. This makes wildfire smoke even more dangerous than regular pollution.
Scientists say that people with lung or heart problems, children, and the elderly are at the highest risk. Carlos Gould, an environmental health scientist, said the fine particles in the air in Los Angeles reached dangerous levels. Normally, the World Health Organization recommends a maximum level of 5 micrograms per cubic meter, but this week, levels were as high as 40 to 100 micrograms, which is a lot worse.
Dr. Afif El-Hasan, a doctor with the American Lung Association, explained that smoke particles can go deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. This makes it harder to breathe and can also hurt the heart. “If you’re working harder to breathe, it can put a strain on your heart,” Dr. El-Hasan said. This can lead to more heart attacks and other health problems.
Residents in Long Beach Feel the Smoke
Even though the fires were far from places like Long Beach, the smoke traveled with the wind. Veronica Gutierrez, who works at a café in Long Beach, said people were avoiding sitting outside because of the smoke. She bought an air purifier for her home, but it didn’t make much of a difference.
Long-Term Health Risks
Experts warn that even after the fires are put out, the effects of the smoke could last for a long time. Justin Gillenwater, a burn director at Los Angeles General Medical Center, said people with respiratory problems could experience long-term health issues. “We’re going to be looking into this for not just weeks, but really years,” he explained.
Efforts to Help the Vulnerable
At the Pasadena Convention Center, which is now a temporary shelter for people displaced by the fires, aid workers handed out N95 masks to help protect people from the smoke. Some of the most vulnerable people, like the homeless, were struggling the most because they had no place to escape the bad air.
As the fires continue to rage, experts and officials urge everyone to stay safe, stay inside, and wear masks to protect themselves from the dangerous smoke.
