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FOX LA reporter gives update on Palisades fire
A FOX11 LA reporter in Los Angeles gave an update on the destruction and emergency evacuations she's witnessed from her position along the Pacific Coast Highway.
Raging winter wildfires in Los Angeles are a grim reminder of how quickly wildfire smoke can creep into your neighborhood – and your home and car.
The small particles in wildfire smoke can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and can affect the heart and lungs, making it harder to breathe. Health officials say it’s important to limit outdoor activities to avoid breathing in the particles.
RELATED: Palisades fire chaos: Abandoned cars and traffic gridlock caught on video
Studies show that wildfire smoke is harmful for humans and animals, causing "accelerated skin aging" and negatively affecting brain, lung and heart health. But even if you stay indoors, the air inside your home can still contain harmful wildfire smoke particles.
RELATED: Celebrity residents evacuate as Pacific Palisades wildfire destroys homes
Who is most at risk from wildfire smoke?
Smoke from the Palisades Fire fills the sky as seen from the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California on January 07, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.(Photo by Tiffany Rose/Getty Images)
People with lung diseases, such as asthma, or heart disease, as well as older adults, children and expectant mothers, are most at risk from wildfire smoke, according to the CDC. However, wildfire smoke can be harmful to anyone.
RELATED: Palisades fire: Newsom declares state of emergency, thousands evacuated
Even if you stay indoors, the microscopic particles from wildfire smoke can find their way into your home, making air quality inside potentially hazardous, according to FOX Weather.
How to stop wildfire smoke from getting into your home and car
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Third wildfire erupts in LA County
More than 1,400 firefighters are battling three Wildfires in LA County. The latest Hurst fire erupting late Tuesday night, already 500 acres. Meanwhile the Palisades and Eaton fires continue to burn at more than 1,000 acres causing evacuations across the county. More than 20,000 homes have been damaged.
FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin said if you use a window air conditioner unit, "don’t turn on your A/C."
"When you’re driving in your car, recycle your air -- the button with the arrow? Hit that, because you don’t want to bring in the air from the outside," Merwin says.
Here are some tips from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reduce the amount of smoke that enters your home:
- Keep windows and doors closed - To stay cool while windows are closed, use fans and air conditioning. If need be, seek shelter elsewhere to remain cool.
- Seal off your HVAC system - If you have an HVAC system with a fresh air intake, set the system to recirculate mode or close the outdoor intake damper.
- Seal off your window air conditioner - If you have a window air conditioner, close the outdoor air damper; if this is impossible, do not use the air conditioner. Also, ensure the seal between the air conditioner and the window is as tight as possible.
- Seal off your portable air conditioner - If you have a portable air conditioner with a hose that vents out of a window, avoid using it. If your air conditioner has two hoses, ensure the seal between the window vent kit and the winder is as tight as possible.
- Avoid using an evaporative cooler - Evaporative coolers can bring in smoke from the outside, so try not to use it unless there is a heat emergency.
Merwin also suggests putting a wet towel at the bottom of your window sill or your door.
"The smoke that’s trying to get into your home is going to be absorbed by that wet towel and keep the levels lower inside your house," she said.
How to clean the air inside your home
Here’s how to clean the air in your home, according to the EPA:
- Use a portable air cleaner or high-efficiency filter - This will remove fine particles from the air.
- Use a DIY air cleaner - This temporary alternative to a portable air cleaner is still effective. To make one, attach a 20" x 20" air filter to the back of a 20" x 20" box fan using either clamps, duct tape or bungee cords.
- Run your HVAC system’s fan - If you have an HVAC system with a high-efficiency filter installed, run its fan as often as possible to remove particles from the air.
RELATED: Palisades fire: Residents evacuate as crews fight wind-driven blaze
While you’re cleaning the air in your home, try to avoid doing activities that may introduce more or kick up existing particles into the air:
- Smoking cigarettes and cigars.
- Using gas, propane or wood-burning furnaces.
- Spraying aerosol products.
- Frying or boiling food.
- Burning candles or incense.
- Vacuuming, unless your vacuum has a HEPA filter.
How to clean up after a wildfire
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Horses rescued from fire in Southern California
A new fire fueled by high winds has erupted in the Eaton Canyon area near Pasadena as crews are also battling another fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood near the Los Angeles area. FOX 11 Los Angeles caught up with a woman rescuing her horses near the Eaton fire. Austin Westfall also discusses the latest with both fires with CAL FIRE's David Acuna.
Even when the wildfire event is over, ash and other debris can remain.
The EPA has the following tips for how to safely clean up after a wildfire:
- Older adults, children and people with heart and lung diseases should not participate in cleanup work.
- Wear gloves, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes and socks - This will help reduce your exposure to ash.
- Wear an N95 respirator - This will protect your lungs from breathing in ash.
- Change your shoes and clothing before you leave the cleanup site - This will help prevent you from tracking ash into your car and other places. Also, be sure to use and clean doormats regularly, which can help reduce how much ash is tracked.
- Clean carefully - Ash that has settled on surfaces may be kicked up into the air, increasing your chances of breathing in the fine particles. To avoid this, avoid dry sweeping or other actions that can bring ash into the air. Instead, try misting surfaces with water before sweeping and then follow with wet mopping.