Smoke from wildfires has made the air unhealthy in most of the Southland, Los Angeles County public health officials said.
South Coast Air Quality Management District: Air Quality Map
Dr. Jonathan Fielding, the director of the county's Public Health Department, cautioned residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities in areas where they can see or smell smoke. Sensitive individuals -- those with respiratory or heart disease -- should stay indoors even if they can't see or smell smoke, he said.
"It is difficult to tell where ash or soot from a wildfire will go, or how winds will affect the level of dust particles in the air, so we ask everyone to be aware of their immediate environment and how it might affect their health," Fielding said.
Officials advised schools that are in session in smoke-impacted areas to keep students indoors for physical education and after-school sports until the smoke clears.
All schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District will be on a regular schedule Monday, but all outdoor activities will be canceled, said district spokeswoman Gayle Pollard-Terry.
To cope with the smoky conditions, public health officials recommended that residents:
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Smoke and ash also pose a health risk to residents taking part in the clean-up after a fire, Fielding said.
Although the ash from wildfires is "relatively non-toxic," like that found in a fireplace, exposure to it can still trigger an asthmatic attack in an individual who already has asthma, he said.
In areas blanketed with ash, public health officials advise residents: