A smoke advisory was issued through Thursday afternoon as smoke from wildfires drifted across parts of Southern California, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
AQMD issued a smoke advisory due to smoke from the Sandy fire in Ventura County, the Bain and Verona fires in Riverside County and a wildfire burning on Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands National Park.
The Sandy fire had scorched nearly 1,700 acres as of Wednesday afternoon in Ventura County. The Bain and Verona fires had burned 1,375 acres and 500 acres respectively by Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the wildfire burning on Santa Rosa Island — the largest wildfire of the year in California — had burned nearly 17,000 acres by Wednesday, according to federal officials.
Smoke from the Santa Rosa Island fire was expected to continue moving onshore into Los Angeles and Orange counties, where much of the region was forecast to experience moderate air quality conditions or higher, according to the AQMD.
Areas of Los Angeles County adjacent to the Sandy fire could reach “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” conditions or higher, the agency said.
In Riverside and San Bernardino counties, smoke from the Bain and Verona fires could also push air quality into the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” category in some areas.
Areas further inland, all of Orange County and other parts of coastal Los Angeles County were more likely to fall within the moderate air quality category or higher due to smoke from Santa Rosa Island brought onshore, according to the forecast.
The AQMD said smoke conditions were expected to improve during the day Wednesday in areas not adjacent to active fires, depending on fire activity.
Conditions may change, and residents are urged to check current air conditions at the agency’s website.
The agency advised the public to limit exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed when possible, avoiding vigorous physical activity and running air conditioning or air purifiers.
People who must be outside were advised that a properly fitted N95 or P100 respirator may provide some protection from smoke exposure.
