As of Aug. 18 over 20 fires were burning across the state. The heat, along with the dry vegetation, creates a perfect wildfire recipe.

By Mary O’KEEFE

People in the areas of the Crescenta Valley and Glendale will not be surprised to learn that fires are affecting air quality. Since the wildfires started, the South Coast Air Quality Management District [AQMD] has issued smoke advisories that, as of press time, were to end today, Thursday.

“Overall, meteorological conditions may bring smoke and ash into portions of the San Gabriel Mountains, Santa Clarita Valley and San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County,” according to AQMD.

The level of smoke advisory is “unhealthy for sensitive groups” meaning those who are elderly, children and people with certain conditions including lung disease and/or heart disease are vulnerable to pollutants. In addition, ozone levels, which are not directly associated with the fires, were expected to reach “unhealthy” to “very unhealthy” air quality index levels on Wednesday afternoon and evening, stated AQMD.

The fires that are causing issues for the area are the Lake Fire, which is burning northeast of Castaic in the Angeles National Forest (ANF), and the Holser Fire in Ventura County that is burning west of Santa Clarita near Lake Piru.

The Lake Fire began on Aug. 12. As of Aug. 19 it had burned 25,948 acres and was 6% contained.

“The Lake Fire was active overnight [Aug. 17-18] where the fire jumped a containment line southwest of Atmore Meadows. Night flying helicopters performed water drops to slow the spread as the fire burned in steep and inaccessible terrain. Firefighters continue to be challenged with high temperatures, critically dry fuels and drought stressed trees. Pyrocumulus clouds are expected to form again today [Wednesday] in the afternoon with the potential for dry lightning strikes,” according to Cal Fire.

There remain in place mandatory evacuations ordered in nearby neighbor-hoods to the Lake Fire. The fire started in the ANF near Lake Hughes, is moving north and is over eight miles to the northeast of Interstate 5 and south of Highway 138. There are several road closures in the area.

All National Forest System lands are closed within the Lake Fire closure area.

The fire danger in the ANF has continued to increase. On Aug. 1 an order was issued that changed fire danger level in the Forest from “very high” to “extreme.” This order prohibits all campfires within the ANF. No fires of any type, including cooking stoves, lanterns and similar devices that use propane, white gas or similar fuels, are allowed at this time.

“For the safety of our firefighters, we must close this section of the Angeles National Forest for a time,” said Rachel Smith, ANF deputy forest supervisor. “Once full containment on the Lake Fire is achieved, the order will give the Burned Area Emergency Response team (BAER) a chance to reduce erosion, flooding and mudslide potential.”

The Holser Fire in Ventura County, as of Aug. 18, burned 3,000 acres and was 30% contained.

Based on satellite imagery, webcam imagery and social media posts, the Holser and Lake fires produced heavy smoke on Tuesday morning, according to AQMD.

Another AQMD Smoke Advisory concerned the Ranch2 Fire that has been burning north of Azusa and Duarte. Although the warning does not include the specific areas of the Crescenta Valley and Glendale smoke from the fire is in several areas of the San Gabriel Valley.

The Ranch2 Fire began in the afternoon of Aug. 13 in the area of San Gabriel Canyon Road and North Ranch Road. As of Aug. 18 it has burned 4,300 acres and is 19% contained.

AQMD advises those in the areas impacted by smoke to limit exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed or to seek alternate shelter, and to avoid vigorous physical activity.

  Charly Shelton, Mary Okeefe