Smoke from Getty Fire causing hazardous air quality in greater Los Angeles area
Air quality a concern in SoCal following fires
With all the recent fires, air quality is a concern for all of us. FOX 11's Leah Uko was at the Getty Fire zone in Brentwood with some advice on how to live with all that smoke.
LOS ANGELES - Smoke lingering in the air following the raging Getty Fire has residents concerned about the air quality.
The 600-acre fire erupted near the Getty Center off the 405 Freeway when fast-moving winds pushed it westward, threatening more than 10,000 homes.
"It was like you sense the particulates in the air and I could certainly from where I live I could see the fire in a distance as well," Westwood residents Taylor Stern said. "It feels a little better now breathing than it did before, but I still don't yet want to take my dog out."
Related: Getty Fire erupts near 405 Freeway prompting evacuations and road closures
Firefighters battle the Getty Fire in houses on fire in Brentwood, California on October 28, 2019. - A wildfire broke out early Monday near the renowned Getty Center in Los Angeles, forcing widespread evacuations as the flames destroyed several homes (Getty Images)
Doctor Michael Ong with UCLA Medical Center says staying home and indoors is wise.
"There are people directly in the active fire zones but there are also the people that are going to be downwind from the smoke. So that's actually the part that matters the most," Dr. Ong said. "The people that are going to be affected health-wise are going to be people that are either children, pregnant women or people with chronic health conditions."
Dr. Ong says that people who have emphysema, asthma or cardiovascular diseases are affected the most.
"You're going to feel short of breath or you might feel nauseous or you might start having a headache and those are signs that are going to tell you 'maybe I'm not feeling so well and I need to go somewhere where I'm going to be able to breathe better air,'" he added.
Testing air quality in Los Angeles following the Getty Fire
A smoke advisory was issued through Tuesday for parts of Los Angeles County due to unhealthy air quality caused by the Getty Fire.
On Monday, the South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory warning of elevated pollution through Tuesday.
The winds could bring smoke and ash into portions of Northwest Coastal Los Angeles, Downtown Los Angeles, and the San Fernando Valley. The advisory stated that air quality may reach "unhealthy" levels or higher in areas directly impact by smoke.
"If you smell smoke or see ash due to a wildfire, limit your exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed or seeking alternate shelter, and avoiding vigorous physical activity," the advisory stated.
FOX 11's Leah Uko contributed to this report.