Could the Los Angeles’ fires impact the Central Valley’s air quality?

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – As plumes of smoke float over Los Angeles, health experts warn about impacts to the local air quality.

Right now, that smoke is headed toward the ocean, but Heather Heinks with the Valley Air District says one wrong jet stream could push it toward the Central Valley.

“If you’ve lived here any matter of time, you can remember the state’s been on fire and we’ve been covered with hazy skies and orange sun,” Heinks said.

How to prepare

She says now is the time to prepare, and the first step is a trip to the store.

“Let’s talk air purifiers and how you can prepare a space in your home to remove the particulate matter from the air. That’s literally what we’re talking about,” Heinks said.

She also recommends buying N95 masks, saying the cloth masks many used during the pandemic are not thick enough to protect from the smoke.

She says if users can still smell the smoke while wearing their mask, it’s not working.

“Smoke contains PM 2.5. It’s so small that you can fit many, many of those on a single hair. So it’s microscopic, which is what makes it so scary,” Heinks said.

If the air quality does get worse, she says it’s important to wash those little particles off when walking in the house.

“As much as it sticks to our lungs it goes into our system. It sticks to your hair and your clothes too,” Heinks said.

As harmful as the smoke can be, she says an air purifier, a mask and some soap and water go a long way to stay healthy.