Smell Smoke In Laguna Beach? Silverado Fire Burns Through OC

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — See smoke or ash in Laguna Beach? A miles-long smoke plume from the Silverado Fire is choking much of Orange County Monday, officials say.

The blaze ignited in the Santiago Canyon area before 7 a.m. for unknown reasons, officials say. Upwards of 60,000 people were evacuated from their homes, and multiple road closures were in place due to the blaze.

"There is no threat to Laguna Beach at this time," according to Lt. Jim Cota of the Laguna Beach Police Department. Still, if you can smell the smoke, there is a health risk, especially if you are in a high risk group.

“Everyone should take precautions to stay cool and drink plenty of water to reduce health risks related to the heat and wildfire smoke,” said Dr. Clayton Chau, County Health Officer. “Additional precautions are especially needed for older adults, those with preexisting medical conditions like heart or lung disease, those with disabilities, children, and those who may be working outdoors.”

Precautions to Reduce Health Effects of Wildfire Smoke:

• Avoid any vigorous outdoor or indoor activity.
• People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should remain indoors .
• Keep the windows and doors in your home closed.
• Use your air conditioner on the re-circulate mode, if available, to limit the intake of outdoor air and keep your home comfortable.
• Keep your airways (nose and mouth) moist by drinking extra amounts of water. This helps your body filter out potentially harmful particles in the smoke.
• Seek medical attention if you have symptoms such as chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath, or severe fatigue.

According to the Air Quality Index, air quality in Laguna Beach was in the "moderate" category due to the blaze and the cold Santa Ana winds blowing dust into the region.

#OC, please share these wildfire smoke health precautions and take care. #SilveradoFire pic.twitter.com/53MojXjujb
— OC Health Care Agency (@ochealth) October 26, 2020

Get Ready, Stay Alert, OC:

This is an excellent time to sign up for AlertOC if you have not yet registered for the Orange County emergency alert system.

Through AlertOC, time-sensitive voice messages from the County or City may be sent to your home, cell or business phone. Text messages may also be sent to cell phones, e-mail accounts and hearing-impaired receiving devices.

You can register the whole family to ensure everyone stays safe at www.alertoc.com. To register by text, simply text: AlertOC to 888777.