Smell Smoke In Orange County: Air Quality Report

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — If you smell smoke in Orange County, chances are it's blowing westward from Riverside County, according to Orange County Fire Authority. Santa Ana winds are blowing smoke from the Riverdale fire, which began Monday, and has reached 50% containment according to CalFire.

With three fires burning further north, the Air Quality Management District, Sam Atwood told NBC4LA that southern California residents are seeing and smelling smoke from multiple areas and often miles away. A smoke advisory was given by the AQMD in the San Fernando Valley and northwest Los Angeles County along the coast, Atwood said.

"If you can smell smoke or see smoke, be sure to go indoors and not spend too much time outside, especially if you have respiratory problems," Atwood told NBC4 LA. "With the high winds and the changeable wind direction, the smoke could affect anyone in the area. If you have asthma or other heart or lung ailments, make sure to keep doors and windows closed."

This being the "strongest" Santa Ana windstorm so far this season entered its second day Tuesday, erratic and powerful winds are threatening Los Angeles and Orange counties with wildfires and downed power lines amid low humidity levels.

Three separate fires are burning in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. The Thomas Fire, the Creek Fire and the Rye Canyon fire near Castaic. Orange County Fire Authority has sent support for the Thomas Fire, one engine with 22 fire fighters to assist with the battle. "We are primarily keeping our strike teams on hand for any fires which might break out in Orange County," OCFA Capt. Larry Kurtz said.

Winds are coming out of the east, and OCFA remains focused on unburned canyon areas and is keeping a close watch on from the Canyon Fire 1 and 2 and unburned Laguna Beach coastal areas. It's been nearly 30 years since the devastating Laguna Beach fire which claimed 450 homes.

Orange County Firewatch volunteers are out on the roadways in key areas, looking for smoke, according to Kurtz.

"The Red Flag Warning will remain in effect through Thursday night," Kurtz said. "OCFA has increased staffing to include additional bulldozers, dispatchers, helicopters, strike teams and water tenders."

All of Orange County -- the coast and its interior sections -- remain under a red flag warning until Thursday night. Also in force are wind warnings of varying severity.

The NWS warned in a statement that wind gusts in mountain areas of between 50 and 70 mph are likely Tuesday in the mountains, with 80-mph gusts possible. This will likely be the strongest and longest duration Santa Ana wind event we have seen so far this season, which runs from late September through April, according to an NWS statement.

"If fire ignition occurs, there will be the potential for very rapid fire spread ... and extreme fire behavior," the NWS stated.

While red flag warnings are now schedule to expire at 6 p.m. Thursday, "long range computer models are showing the possibility that the Santa Ana winds could persist into Friday or Saturday, which may require the extension of the red flag warning," according to an NWS statement.

Orange county is also expected to experience sunshine Tuesday and highs of 68 in Laguna Beach, 69 in San Clemente; 70 in Newport Beach, Mission Viejo and Yorba Linda; 72 in Irvine; 73 in Anaheim; and 74 in Fullerton. Slight increases are expected over the coming days.

Photo: OCFA Courtesy, Patch File Photo, Canyon Fire 2.