by winstonian on Sunday, November 16th, 2008 | Health, Health, Inspiration, Knowledge, News | 1 Comment

It’s pretty smoky in the San Gabriel Valley, much like it probably is in all of Southern California. A softball game was cancelled. A football game was cancelled here. And the Pasadena marathon was also cancelled. I thought it would be good for me to play football and softball today, but when I heard it was cancelled, HOORAY! It kind of smells like I left the stove on and I didn’t know it, or if I left the iron or oven on too long with nothing inside. I don’t know what this does for my lungs, but it can’t be good. And yet it’s good to be home.

I guess watching the National Football League isn’t such a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon. But man it stinks out there! In more ways than one.

Tags: air quality, air quality los angeles

by wildcherry on Saturday, November 15th, 2008 | News | 10 Comments

see more pictures

tips from Los Angeles County officials to help cope with bad air:

* Avoid unnecessary outdoor activity.

* Do not use fireplaces, candles or vacuums.

* When indoors, keep windows and doors closed. Air conditioners can remove particles from the air, but if residents do not have an air-conditioning unit and are getting too hot, they should consider going somewhere with air conditioning. The county warns residents not to use air conditioners that draw in air only from the outside and do not have a recirculating option.

* Don’t smoke.

UPDATE:The fire that broke out Saturday in Corona near Green River Road and the 91 Riverside Freeway has now been dubbed the “Freeway Complex” fire or the “Triangle Freeway” fire because of the broad stretch of land in three counties–Riverside (Corona), Orange (Yorba Linda, Anaheim Hills), and San Bernardino (Chino Hills)–in which it is blazing. A fire in nearby Brea is being connected to this fire, and now threatens the neighboring community of Diamond Bar, which would then involve a fourth county, Los Angeles.
View Larger Map

Watch LIVE VIDEO from abc7.com

Gov. Schwarzenegger declares a state of emergency as hurricane-like wind gusts continue to drive a raging wildfire across a large swath of the northern Valley. 10,000 residents are ordered to evacuate.

Evacuation info
Sayre Fire Map and Evacuation route, Montecito Fire Map,Sylmar Fire Map,Orange County,Yorba Linda Fire Map.

California Wildfire Map

“We need everyone to conserve power today,” the mayor said. He said rolling blackouts may be required if power is significantly cut. “Our resources are strained at this moment.”

L.A. officials launched rolling backouts across the city for about an hour this morning after deactivating some transmission lines in the Sylmar fire zone out of fear that winds could blow them down and cause more blazes.

Officials said that sections of the Mid-City, Crenshaw and Harbor Gateway that lost power this morning should have it restored.

Several blackouts were reported in the San Fernando Valley, with entire neighborhoods losing power and traffic jammed because traffic signals were off. There were also reports of stalled elevators.

The Department of Water and Power said transmission lines along the Interstate 5 corridor north of Sylmar were taken out of service this morning. These lines are considered a major source of imported power to Los Angeles from power plants outside California.

Officials urged residents to conserve power. “Residents are urged to avoid using all major appliances, including air conditioners as long as doing so does not compromise their or their family members health or safety,” the DWP said in a statement.

More than 600 firefighters are battling the fire, which forced the evacuations of 5,000 people from their homes in Sylmar early Saturday as flames burned along the northern boundary of Los Angeles.

The brush-fueled fire erupted late Friday in the steep terrain of the Angeles National Forest on the outskirts of Sylmar, about 20 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. It covered 1,500 acres and threatened at least 1,000 homes just three hours after it was first reported, according to Los Angeles Fire spokesman Armando Hogan.

Another wildfire roaring out of control in Santa Barbara County about 70 miles to the west has destroyed more than 150 homes, charred 1,500 acres and possibly contributed to at least one death, officials said Friday.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency Friday in Santa Barbara County as firefighters work to contain the fire

Full Story: here

More pictures:

(Source - abc7.com - See It, Shoot It, Send It: Complex Fire)

Related Story:One of three major wildfires burning in southern California appears to be “human caused,”, Thousands more evacuates,LA Air Quality

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