Fires across Southern California worsen air quality for millions of residents

Southern California air quality continued to worsen on Tuesday, thanks in large part to the unhealthy atmosphere created by a trio of massive wildfires burning tens of thousands of acres of brush — all in the midst of a record-breaking heat wave. 

San Bernardino and Highland residents bore the brunt of the awful conditions after the Line Fire burned more than 32,000 acres, sending ash and smoke into the air, some of which ended up as far south as Temecula on Tuesday morning. 

According to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the wildfire caused the air quality index to skyrocket to a "hazardous" high of 339, more than 200 points above acceptable levels.

However, the San Bernardino County fire and the Roblar Fire at Camp Pendleton forced AQMD to issue a wildfire smoke advisory for everyone between the Los Angeles County coast and the Coachella Valley Sunday night after the charred landscape spread pollutants across Southern California.

While not as bad as the surrounding fire area, much of Riverside and San Bernardino counties endured "very unhealthy" or "unhealthy" levels. According to the AQMD, very unhealthy levels increase the health risk to everyone in the area, while unhealthy levels could cause serious health concerns to sensitive groups. 

AQMD recommends that anyone with heart disease, pregnant women, children, older adults, and people with lung disease, including asthma, stay inside and avoid outdoor activity. 

The Bridge Fire in the Angeles National Forest, about 60 miles from the Line Fire, also sent smoke into the air after it exploded to more than 34,000 acres by Tuesday evening. 

The Airport Fire in Orange County also worsened the air quality near the Santa Ana Mountains as it rapidly spread through the area and encroached into Riverside County, where it destroyed some structures in Lake Elsinore. 

As a result, public health officials advised that children and seniors with chronic respiratory challenges like asthma and lung and heart disease, are at risk of developing complications from the air quailty. 

According to AQMD, the smoky conditions worsened air conditions to unhealthy levels throughout the San Gabriel Valley, parts of Orange County and the Gateway Cities, which includes Downey, La Mirada, Pico Rivera and other nearby neighborhoods.

For the latest air quality updates, visit the AQMD's interactive map.