Air quality officials are advising those in parts of Los Angeles and Orange counties to “exercise caution and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities” as of Monday due to worsening air quality from ongoing wildfires.
“I live in Glendale and even though it’s far away the air was still terrible,” said Ivan Cruz, a sophomore pre-nursing major. “I went outside to walk my dog and I couldn’t breathe.”
While the Santa Ana winds have died down, onshore sea breezes may bring airborne particles blown out to the sea back inland, according to the Air Quality Management District (AQMD).
The smoke blown inland may reach as far as the Inland Empire.
Face masks are available at the Student Health Center for 50 cents.
Some students say the worsened air quality has affected their routines.
“I haven’t been able to go outside or workout,” said Jacob Vera, a junior mechanical engineering major. “I’m a runner and I know that a race up in Pasadena was canceled due to the fire.”
Daisy Garcia, a junior interior design major, worries about the possible effects of worsened air quality on her 9-month-old baby.
“Since the fire started I keep everything closed; the doors, the windows,” Garcia said.
Claudia Acosta, a freshman business accounting major, said the air quality in Long Beach seemed worse than that of her hometown of Santa Ana.
“Here you can feel it in the air,” she said. “Over there you can just smell it.”
Albert Chatigny, a fourth year psychology major, had no class as a result of the fires.
“One of my professors was actually evacuated from Yorba Linda,” he said. “she cancelled class this morning.”
The Los Angeles Times reported 35,662 acres had burned and 987 homes and structures had been destroyed among the three fires as of Monday afternoon.
