LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� With levels of sooty air pollution far too high across swaths of the Los Angeles area, Dana Benton is sleeping with a mask on, even with her air purifier running.
鈥淢y car was just covered in ash, and it鈥檚 just disgusting to think that we could be inhaling that,鈥� the Chinatown resident said, through an N95 mask outside a Sprouts grocery store in the Mid-City neighborhood. That's not where she lives. Like thousands of residents, she's left home to get away from the smoke. Now she and her cat are staying with her parents.
It鈥檚 not like a campfire, she said, 鈥渆ven though it smells like one.鈥� The 30-year-old worries about plastic, asbestos and other toxins released from homes and businesses as wildfires rage through several Los Angeles neighborhoods; her eyes and throat have been burning even though she keeps her windows closed, air filter running on high and mostly has been staying indoors.
鈥淎ll those microparticles are going into our lungs," she said. "It鈥檚 really very concerning ... I can鈥檛 even think about the long-term repercussions, health wise, for everybody from all of this.鈥�
She's not wrong. Small particles can provoke a range of health problems, including breathing and heart issues. Across Southern California, people are taking precautions as the air quality index 鈥� a measure that includes fine particles 鈥� reached hazardous levels for some neighborhoods, including Pasadena.
Air purifiers in Home Depots around Central Los Angeles are sold out.
Dr. Puneet Gupta, assistant medical director for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, said emergency room doctors tell him people with breathing problems are coming in by ambulance, driving themselves and with family.
Conditions are changing constantly with shifts in wind and wind speed. But it鈥檚 important to take precautions like masking and mostly staying indoors even after the fires are out, because air quality can be poor 鈥渇or quite some time,鈥� Gupta said.
Ash was falling from an orange sky as Celia Fagel walked her dog, Lou, for a potty break around their central Los Angeles neighborhood. She wore a black face mask, hoping to protect herself, she said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 better to be safe than sorry,鈥� said Fagel, 34, Thursday morning.
She also worries about the toxins she's inhaling and about Lou, who doesn鈥檛 get to mask up 鈥渁nd has no idea what鈥檚 going on.鈥�
Air quality was generally worst Wednesday and Thursday from Pasadena to the port of Los Angeles because the winds fanning the flames were blowing toward the south and southwest, said Scott Epstein, air quality assessment manager for the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
The typical fire often begins in the mountain foothills and smoke can flow above valleys and populated areas, rather than hovering near the surface, Epstein said.
鈥淏ut since these fires are down in the valleys, in the urban areas, the smoke stays low to the ground and can have some pretty serious impacts,鈥� he said.
Warm, dry winds remain in the forecast.
Guillermina Gonzalez, 61, wore two masks Thursday to walk her dog and is encouraging her family to stay inside.
鈥淎ll of this is really bad ... really dangerous,鈥� she said, speaking in Spanish.
She said she's heartbroken by the scope of devastation and for the people who have lost homes.
鈥淭here are a lot of people who are going to need our help," she said, choking back tears. 鈥淚 tell everyone that if we can help we should, because we are all human beings.鈥�
___
Webber reported from Fenton, Michigan.
___
The Associated Press鈥� climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP鈥檚 for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at .
Dorany Pineda And Tammy Webber, The Associated Press
