Holy Fire's Effect on Air Quality in Aliso Viejo, Orange County and Beyond

ALISO VIEJO, CA — While the Holy Fire has blazed through the Santa Ana mountains, the cloud of smoke and pollutants in the air have largely unaffected Orange County. Air quality was in the good to unhealthful for sensitive groups range in the South Coast Air Basin today.

With a cloud of smoke that was visible in four counties today, air quality is high on things to watch for with regard to families, children who play out-of-doors sports and the elderly.

Inland Orange County on Wednesday remained in the "good" range, while the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys, Riverside and San Bernardino counties were in the unhealthful ranges.

The AQMD predicts air quality in the moderate to very unhealthful range for tomorrow.

Air quality will be moderate in the coastal areas, as well as inland Orange County, Temecula and the San Gabriel Valley.

Expect unhealthful for sensitive groups conditions in the San Gabriel, Hemet and Elsinore area, Big Bear Lake.

Unhealthful air quality through Riverside and San Bernardino Valley.

Very Unhealthful conditions for the San Bernardino Mountains.

The AQI measures the amount of pollutants in the air, whether ozone,carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide or PM10 (particulate matter).

Conditions are considered "good'' when AQI levels are between zero and 50. No health impacts are expected when air quality is in this range.

When AQI levels are 51 to 100, air quality is deemed "moderate,'' which means that unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

Air quality is designated "unhealthful for sensitive groups'' when AQI levels are from 101 to 150. At this level, active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

When AQI levels are between 151 and 200, air quality is deemed "unhealthful.'' At this level, active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion.Everyone else, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

"Very unhealthful'' air quality is declared when the AQI registers between 201 and 300. Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, should avoid all outdoor exertion when the AQI is at this level.

Everyone else, especially children, should limit outdoor exertion.

Photo, courtesy Cleveland National Forest Service, Holy Fire