PRESS RELEASE

City of Long Beach 
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd, 
Long Beach, CA 90802
www.longbeach.gov

9/9/2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPress Release # 090920-3
Subject:
City of Long Beach Cautions Residents of Poor Air Quality Due to Southern California Fires
Contact:
Judeth Luong
Manager, Bureau of Environmental Health
562.570.4104
judeth.luong@longbeach.gov




City Health Officer Anissa Davis warns Long Beach residents about potential unhealthy air quality due to two major wildfires in the Southern California region, the Bobcat Fire and the El Dorado Fire, which are producing heavy smoke. Smoke and ash rising into the atmosphere may be visible over portions of Long Beach and surrounding areas, potentially creating unhealthy conditions.

All individuals are urged to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities in any area directly impacted by smoke and ash. This includes areas where residents can see or smell smoke.

In any area impacted by smoke, residents should take the following precautions:
  • Avoid any vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion.
  • Remain indoors, especially for individuals with respiratory or heart disease, pregnant women, older adults and children.
  • Keep windows and doors closed or seek alternate shelter.
  • Run your air conditioner if you have one.
  • Change the standard air-conditioner filter to a medium or high efficiency filter. If you have a wall-unit or window-unit air conditioner, set it to “re-circulate.”
  • Avoid the use of a swamp cooler or whole-house fan to prevent bringing additional smoke inside, if possible. 
  • Avoid indoor or outdoor wood-burning appliances, including fireplaces, to avoid worsening the health effects of wildfire smoke.
For more detailed information about air quality related to the wildfires, visit the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s website at aqmd.gov or view a map of local real-time air quality data. If you would like to sign up for air quality forecasts, subscribe by visiting airalerts.org. 

The Bobcat Fire began on Sunday and is burning north of Azusa and Glendora in the Angeles National Forest. The El Dorado Fire is currently burning in the San Bernardino Mountains near Yucaipa in San Bernardino County.

Media inquiries can be directed to Judeth Luong, Manager, Bureau of Environmental Health, 562.570.4104 or judeth.luong@longbeach.gov. 

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