Dozens of wildfires continue to burn throughout Southern California, including the Line Fire and Airport Fire, which are causing mass evacuations in several communities. While temperatures are set to cool slightly in the coming days, the impact will not be enough to slow the expansion of current wildfires nor prevent further blazes.
"Wildfires can cause very unhealthy and even hazardous air quality. We encourage all those near the current fires to listen closely and quickly follow all police and fire guidance on evacuations," stated a representative from the American Lung Association.
Wildfire smoke poses a serious health hazard to people living and working near fires. It can also travel thousands of miles, impacting the health of anyone who breathes it. "Breathing this smoke places even healthy individuals at risk, and you should talk with your healthcare provider about how to prepare for this exposure, especially if you work outdoors, are pregnant, are under age 18 or over age 65, or have asthma, COPD or a lung disease, chronic heart disease or diabetes," added the representative.
To help residents protect their health, the Lung Association has released various health tips. More information about wildfires and lung health can be found at Lung.org/wildfires.
