Thursday, March 28, 2024

AdvertiseDonateSubmit
NewsSportsArtsOpinionThe QuadPhotoVideoIllustrationsCartoonsGraphicsThe StackPRIMEEnterpriseInteractivesPodcastsBruinwalkClassifieds

Air quality in Westwood deemed unhealthy as a result of nearby fires

Los Angeles residents are encouraged to stay indoors because of unhealthy air quality. The Bobcat fire is 6% contained and has burned nearly 30,000 acres as of Saturday morning. (Kanishka Mehra/Photo editor)

By Elizabeth Sherwood

Sept. 12, 2020 2:36 p.m.

Air quality in Westwood is unhealthy because of wildfires east of Los Angeles.

The Bobcat fire, which began Sunday in the Angeles National Forest, has impacted air quality throughout Southern California. Westwood has an air quality index of 169, which is classified as unhealthy. A hazardous AQI is within 301-500.

The LA County Department of Public Health issued a smoke advisory Friday for Los Angeles residents to stay indoors. Citizens are advised to abstain from outdoor exercise, and those with air quality sensitive conditions should stay inside, according to the advisory.

The fire does not pose an immediate threat to the UCLA campus, according to a BruinAlert sent to students Saturday.

The Bobcat fire, which started about 30 miles from the UCLA campus, has since spread rapidly, prompting evacuation warnings in several nearby cities including Arcadia, Sierra Madre and Pasadena. The fire is 6% contained and has burned nearly 30,000 acres as of Saturday, according to the United States Forest Service.

According to an update Saturday from the USFS, fire crews are now focused on containing the southernmost end of the fire in order to protect communities in the foothills. Other crews are stationed at the northern side of the fire to prevent spread onto Highway 2 and Highway 39.

Air quality concerns in Los Angeles led to the closure of parks in Los Angeles County, according to the LA County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Warm and dry weather patterns are contributing to the fire’s rapid growth, according to the USFS.

Share this story:FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Elizabeth Sherwood | Assistant News editor
Sherwood is the 2020-2021 Assistant News Editor for the City & Crime beat. She was previously a contributor for National News and Higher Education. She is a second year political science and communications student and digital humanities minor at UCLA.
Sherwood is the 2020-2021 Assistant News Editor for the City & Crime beat. She was previously a contributor for National News and Higher Education. She is a second year political science and communications student and digital humanities minor at UCLA.
COMMENTS
Featured Classifieds
More classifieds »
Related Posts