As firefighters close in on the Palisades and Eaton fires -- with both nearly 100% contained as of Tuesday, Jan. 27 -- concerns remain about lasting public health impacts across L.A. county from the disasters.
Worries about bad air quality from wildfire smoke have been on the rise since the fires broke out and lots of discussion -- and misinformation -- populates social media these days. Here are some answers to your questions about post-fire air quality, and how to keep yourself safe.
Q: Is the air quality toxic in Los Angeles?
A: Generally -- no. With the fires going out and the recent rainfall, air quality has improved with each passing day.
But people in close proximity to the burn areas of the Palisades and Eaton fires should remain vigilant and rely on local information from the South Coast Air Quality Management District's Air Quality Index to determine whether it's safe to be out and about without protection.
Concerns about air quality for residents across L.A. County were heightened when the fires were burning at their peak -- largely because they burned down more than 12,000 structures, cars, and more that could release toxic chemicals including heavy metals and asbestos into the air.
But now that both the Palisades and Eaton fires are largely contained, that concern has lessened, to the extent that the county's Department of Public Health limited its ban the use of power air blowers -- which could spread fire pollution across the region -- from the entire county to just the Palisades and Eaton fire perimeter areas.
"Although power air blowers may be used in all areas of the County of Los Angeles that are outside of the Palisades and Eaton wildfire perimeters," DPH said in a news release, "please note that in areas where concerning amounts of ash and dust are still present, the County Health Officer recommends that individuals consider alternatives to the use of power air blowers."
Aside from relying on AQI data, residents are advised to stay inside if they see or smell smoke or ash in the air.
Q: What constitutes 'close proximity' to burn areas?
A: Experts say you're in close proximity to a burn area if you're within several houses of the perimeter, though places with a lot of ash, or downwind from the fire area, could also be consider nearby.
"This includes areas that were in the smoke plume for an extended period or areas that are downwind of the fire now," according to UCLA professor and Center for Clean Air Director Suzanne Paulson. "People who live within a mile or so of the fires but weren't in the smoke plume or downwind may only need to take precautions if the wind changes direction."
Q: What's the issue with the AQI?
A: The Air Quality Index monitors the region's air quality for five major pollutants including particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide -- but it doesn't account for ash from fires, nor other toxic compounds that may have been released into the air by the fires.
But since the fires have largely been contained, the worries about additional air pollutants from the fires for the bulk of L.A. County have eased.
"Except in and near burn areas, we are back to business as usual," Paulson said. "For most people, believe the AQI and relax."
Q: What about drinking water?
A: In the early days of the Palisades and Eaton fires, water officials issued notices to customers urging them not drink tap water, even if boiled, as it could have been polluted by the fires.
Those notices were released as a precautionary measure, according to the California Water Resources Control Board, to allow impacts of the fires on local and regional water systems to be evaluated.
A Do-Not-Drink tap water notice is still in effect for most of the Pacific Palisades, according to the L.A. Department of Water and Power, in ZIP code 90272 -- and adjacent communities just north of San Vicente Boulevard.
The notice will remain in effect until tests show the water has returned to safe drinking standards, according to DWP. Until then, residents are advised to avoid using tap water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, and washes dishes.
"LADWP will inform you when tests show that water is safe to drink," the notice said. "The timing for resolving this is unknown dependent on evolving conditions, performance of necessary system flushing and testing in accordance with public safety protocols."
Similar notices are also still in effect for the Lincoln Avenue Water Company and the Rubio Cañon Land & Water Association, which service parts of Altadena, though Pasadena Water and Power lifted its Do-Not-Drink notice for its service areas on Friday, Jan. 24.
If you're in an area under a Do-Not-Drink notice, information about how to keep yourself safe is available waterboards.ca.gov.
Q: Is it safe to swim in the ocean?
A: The Department of Public Health, as of Monday, Jan. 27, issued an ocean water closure from Las Flores State Beach to Santa Monica State Beach as a result of the recent rainfall, which increase fire debris level in the ocean.
The closure was a result of "recent rainfall and the increase in fire debris along these ocean waters," DPH said. "Fire debris runoff and pollutants in the water and on the sand may contain toxic or carcinogenic chemicals."
That rain-related closure is expected to last through Thursday, Jan. 30, and DPH cautions residents against coming into contact with the water for three days after significant rainfall.
"Once the rain advisory is lifted, the ocean water advisory for Surfrider Beach to Dockweiler State Beach at World Way will remain due to fire debris runoff," DPH said, "which may contain substances including arsenic, other metals, and asbestos, which can be harmful to health."
For information on ocean water safety, visit publichealth.lacounty.gov.
Q: How can I protect myself if I am concerned about air quality?
A: Keep an eye on air quality for your area. If your air quality falls in the "good" or "moderate" category, you don't live in close proximity to the fires, and you don't see or smell smoke and ash -- you're generally safe to go about business as usual.
If you're in or near burn area, or you see or smell smoke or as, you're advised to wear a well-fitting N95 mask if they go outdoors, though it's best to stay inside and keep windows and doors closed, run an air conditioner or a high-efficiency air purifier, and avoid vacuuming, frying food, burning candles or using gas-powered appliances when air quality is bad.