Tens of Thousands Told to Avoid Using Grills

Tens of thousands of people in California have been told to avoid using their grills amid high levels of pollution from wildfire smoke in the region.

“If you smell smoke or see ash due to a wildfire, remain indoors with windows and doors closed or seek alternative shelter, if feasible,” the National Weather Service said.

“Avoid vigorous physical activity and run your air conditioner and/or an air purifier. If possible, do not use whole house fans or swamp coolers that bring in outside air.

“Avoid burning wood in your fireplace or firepit and minimize sources of indoor air pollution such as candles, incense, pan-frying, and grilling,” the service added.

People in affected regions have been advised to wear a tightly-fitted N-95 or P-100 respirator if outdoors and to limit their use of gasoline powered lawn and garden equipment. The air quality alert is in effect from 4 p.m. on Tuesday to 6 p.m. Thursday and will apply to Joshua Tree, the Chiriaco Summit and Chuckwalla Valley.

Southern California has been battling wildfires since Monday, which have scorched more than 751,000 acres across the state.

Four structures were damaged and one was destroyed in a wildfire in Riverside County on Monday, while a fire in Kern County has burned more than 57,000 acres. The Park Fire continues to burn in Butte, Tehama, Shasta and Plumas counties, becoming the fifth-largest wildfire in California’s history, having burned nearly 387,000 acres since it ignited Wednesday, Cal Fire said.

“This devastating fire and the many like it we’re facing across the West are a clear and present danger to our way of life and California as we know it,” California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement. He declared a state of emergency in Kern County.

Wildfires tend to produce large quantities of finer particulates known as PM2.5 and even finer nanoparticles, which are known to be particularly harmful to human health.

Exposure to particle pollution can cause serious health problems; aggravate lung disease; cause asthma attacks and acute bronchitis; and increase risk of respiratory infections, according to the NWS.

People with heart or lung diseases are advised to follow their doctor’s advice for dealing with episodes of unhealthy air quality. Additionally, those with respiratory or heart disease, older adults, and children are particularly susceptible and should avoid prolonged exposure, strenuous activities or heavy exertion as conditions dictate.

Wildfire season in California has been significantly busier than last year, scorching more than 751,000 acres of land thus far, according to Cal Fire.

That accounts for activity that is 2,816 percent higher than in 2023, amounting to “29 times the amount of acreage burned,” the agency said.