Los Angeles health authorities on Saturday alerted residents of the health risks posed by the smoke caused by the vast fires which are devastating swaths of the Californian city, asking them to stay inside buildings.
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Massive fires are ravaging the second largest city in the United States, sending toxic clouds into the air.
“We all deal with wildfire smoke, which is a mixture of small particles, gases and water vapors,” said Anish Mahajan, of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, during a press conference.
“It’s these small particles that get into the nose and throat and cause sore throats and headaches.”
“In areas where smoke is visible or there is a smell of smoke, and even where you don’t see it, we know that air quality is poor, so you should limit any exposure to smoke. outside as much as possible.
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Mahajan says even healthy people should stay indoors as much as possible, using an air filtration system. Those who must work outdoors should wear a mask that filters micro-particles, he recommended.
Young people, the elderly and the sick should be particularly careful.
The multiple fires that broke out around Los Angeles ravaged large areas, reducing homes, businesses, cars and vegetation to ashes. During these fires, plastics, chemicals, fuels and construction materials were burned, dispersing toxic particles into the air of the densely populated region.
On Friday, Los Angeles County declared a state of health emergency due to the smoke and banned the use of machines such as leaf blowers, which can disperse the dangerous fumes.
In five days, the fires have killed at least eleven people. More than 12,000 buildings and more than 15,000 hectares went up in smoke.
