SMOKE ADVISORY

Valid Thursday, January 16, 2014

A brush fire, named the Colby Fire is burning in the Angeles National Forest above Glendora and into the nearby communities.  It is estimated at over 125 acres with no containment, as of 7:30 AM.  With increasing offshore flow this morning, smoke impacts from the Colby Fire are expected to be in the immediate area around the fire with smoke moving into the Los Angeles basin.  Smoke production from this fire is currently high.

 Areas directly impacted by smoke and ash may experience air quality in the Unhealthy range, or higher.  Depending on fire and weather conditions, the portions of the South Coast Air Basin where smoke impacts and Unhealthy air quality are most likely to occur include portions of:

?         the East San Gabriel Valley (Forecast Area 9);

?         the Pomona/Walnut Valley (Forecast Area 10);

?         the South San Gabriel Valley (Forecast Area 11).

 Smoke may be experienced in additional areas of Los Angeles County downwind of the fire, depending on evolving conditions, but air quality is expected to remain in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category in the following areas:

?         Southeast Los Angeles County (Forecast Area 5);

?         South Central Los Angeles County (Forecast Area 12);

?         Southwest Los Angeles County Coastal (Forecast Area 3);

?         South Los Angeles County Coastal (Forecast Area 4). 

In any area 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 windows and doors closed or 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.  To avoid worsening the health effects of wildfire smoke, don’t use indoor or outdoor wood-burning appliances, including fireplaces.

To subscribe to air quality alerts, advisories and forecasts by email, go to http://AirAlerts.org

To view current air quality conditions by region in an interactive map, seehttp://www3.aqmd.gov/webappl/gisaqi2/home.aspx

For more tips on avoiding health impacts from smoke, see http://www.aqmd.gov/ej/CAC/wildfire_safety_tips.htmon AQMD’s website