This advisory is in effect through Saturday morning. South Coast AQMD will issue an update if additional information becomes available.
Four wildfires are burning in the South Coast Air Basin. Please check air quality on the South Coast AQMD website ([www.aqmd.gov/aqimap]www.aqmd.gov/aqimap) for current conditions.
Los Angeles County
The Saddleridge Fire is burning near Sylmar, Granada Hills, and Porter Ranch in Los Angeles County. As of 8:30 a.m., the burn area was reported at 4,700 acres with 0% containment. The Saddleridge fire is producing visible smoke with little plume rise that is currently blowing to the southwest to the ocean. As a result, low-cost sensors are showing elevated PM2.5 concentrations in portions of the San Fernando Valley, Topanga, and Malibu. The South Coast AQMD’s monitor in Reseda is also showing elevated PM2.5 concentrations, which is currently resulting in Unhealthy AQI levels.
Winds in the area of the Saddleridge Fire will continue to come from the north to northeast throughout Friday and overnight into Saturday morning. Wind speeds will be strong throughout the advisory period, with gusts this morning around 30 mph before decreasing to 20 mph starting mid-afternoon and continuing this evening through Saturday morning. Low mixing heights in the atmosphere overnight could lead to lower smoke plume rise and elevated ground level concentrations of PM2.5.
If the fire continues to generate smoke on Friday evening through Saturday morning, smoke may impact portions of the San Fernando Valley, Calabasas, and Malibu. This could result in elevated PM2.5 concentrations and Unhealthy air quality throughout the advisory period.
Riverside County
The Sandalwood Fire is burning near Calimesa in Riverside County. As of 7:15 a.m., the burn area was reported at 823 acres with 0% containment.
The Reche Fire is burning near Moreno Valley in Riverside County. As of 7:15 a.m., the burn area was reported at 350 acres with 40% containment and forward spread of the fire stopped.
The Wolf Fire is burning near Banning in Riverside County. As of 7:15 a.m., the burn area was reported at 75 acres and was 25% contained.
Based on satellite imagery and webcams, smoke production from the fires has been minimal on Friday morning. PM2.5 concentrations were not elevated on the South Coast AQMD monitoring network last night or this morning due to the wildfires. However, a couple of isolated low-cost sensors have shown elevated PM2.5 concentrations, suggesting that any smoke impacts from the Riverside County fires are localized.
Strong Santa Ana winds from the east will be in place Friday morning through the late afternoon with gusts up to 30 mph possible. Wind speeds will start to decrease on Friday evening after 6pm. Overnight into Saturday morning, winds will be light and from the east and southeast in the areas of the fire.
If the fires continue to generate smoke on Friday evening through Saturday morning, smoke may impact portions of the Inland Empire in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. This could lead to elevated PM2.5 concentrations and Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups air quality levels.
Areas of direct impacts and poor air quality may include portions of:
Los Angeles County: Northwest Coastal LA County (Area 2), West San Fernando Valley (Area 6), East San Fernando Valley (Area 7), Santa Clarita Valley (Area 13), San Gabriel Mountains (Area 15)
Riverside County: Metropolitan Riverside County (Area 23), Perris Valley (Area 24), Hemet-San Jacinto Valley (Area 28), San Gorgonio Pass (Area 29)
San Bernardino County: Central San Bernardino Valley (Area 34), East San Bernardino Valley (Area 35)
In any area impacted by smoke: If you smell smoke or see ash due to a wildfire, limit your exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed or seeking alternate shelter, and avoiding vigorous physical activity. For more tips on protecting yourself during a wildfire, see South Coast AQMD’s Wildfire Smoke & Ash Health & Safety Tips page: http://www.aqmd.gov/wildfire-health-info-smoke-tips.
South Coast AQMD Advisory updates can be found at the following link:
www.aqmd.gov/advisory
To subscribe to air quality alerts, advisories and forecasts by email, go to www.AirAlerts.org
To view current air quality conditions by region in an interactive map, see www.aqmd.gov/aqimap
For real-time air quality information, maps, notifications and health alerts in your area, download our award-winning South Coast AQMD app at: www.aqmd.gov/mobileapp
Air quality forecasts are available at http://www.aqmd.gov/forecast
For a map of South Coast AQMD Forecast Areas, see http://www.aqmd.gov/ForecastAreas
South Coast AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, including the Coachella Valley. For news, air quality alerts, event updates and more, please visit us at www.aqmd.gov, download our award-winning app, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.