The South Coast Air Quality Management District advised OC residents of potential smoke impacts due to wildfires burning in SoCal.

The smoke was expected to most heavily affect northwest coastal LA County, and in areas nearest the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst wildfires.

Ash from the recent LA County fires and burn scars formed by other wildfires in the fall can be dispersed by strong winds. See an air quality map.

Wildfire ash carries many carcinogens that could cause short- and long-term health problems, including asthma attacks and difficulty breathing.

Air quality in wildfire-stricken Los Angeles improved on Thursday from hazardous peaks hit earlier this month, as tiny soot particles that can penetrate the lungs and brain dropped to moderate levels,

Winds have begun shifting to the east, which drove the Eaton fire toward Arcadia and Monrovia early Wednesday morning. Smoke will more likely begin to blow into the eastern San Gabriel Valley, not as much to the south of the fire, Lyou explained. “Arcadia, Duarte and Azusa may see elevated levels (of bad air) from that fire,” he said.

The hazardous air quality in Los Angeles is largely a result of smoke from the Pacific Palisades Fire, intensified by strong Santa Ana winds.