A smoke advisory was issued through Tuesday evening, May 19 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 and a wildfire burning on Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands National Park.
The Sandy Fire had scorched 1,385 acres as of Tuesday morning in Ventura County.
Meanwhile, the wildfire burning on Santa Rosa Island — the largest wildfire of the year in California — had burned 16,600 acres by Tuesday, according to federal officials.
Smoke impacts were expected to increase overnight into Tuesday, according to AQMD.
“Smoke from the Sandy Fire is expected to impact much of western Los Angeles County including Calabasas, Santa Monica, and Los Angeles City,” the agency said in its forecast.
Smoke from the Santa Rosa Island fire also moved onshore overnight, impacting the coastline of Los Angeles and Orange counties, according to AQMD.
The agency said smoke could reach unhealthy air quality index levels at times between Calabasas, Pacific Palisades and Malibu. Areas between Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and East Los Angeles could reach “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” conditions or higher.
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, according to the forecast.
AQMD said smoke conditions were expected to improve during the day Tuesday in areas not adjacent to the Sandy Fire, though smoke could increase again Tuesday night depending on fire activity.
Also, in Riverside County, the Bain and Verona fires were forcing evacuations in various communities on Tuesday, though the site did not immediately single those wildfires out by name.
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.