Californians urged to stop grilling to improve air quality after pollution spikes

A warning has been issued across California urging residents to avoid grilling after an increase in air pollution was detected due to wildfires.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) issued an air quality alert for parts of Riverside County on Sunday as several wildfires raged.

Smoke from the Eagle Fire that started Sunday and burned 1,710 acres added ozone pollutants to the air, creating unhealthy conditions.

The AQMD urged California residents to stay indoors, avoid physical activity and avoid contributing to air pollution by starting more fires.

“Avoid burning wood in your fireplace or fireplace and minimize sources of indoor air pollution such as candles, incense, stoves and grills,” Newsweek reported.

“If you must be outdoors, limit your time outdoors and wear a well-fitted N-95 or P-100 respirator to reduce your exposure. Limit the use of gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.”

Numerous other fires were also raging across the state, including one that started Saturday and quickly spread to more than 4 square miles on the border of Lake and Colusa counties, northwest of Sacramento.

Evacuation orders have been issued east of Los Angeles in Riverside County, where fires have destroyed a handful of buildings and burned more than 2,000 acres of land, according to local authorities.

Across California, firefighters were battling 21 blazes of varying sizes Monday, according to the state agency Cal Fire.

California Governor Gavin Newsom warned earlier in July of a “very active” wildfire season, after two years of respite thanks to rainy winters.

Repeated heat waves since early June have dried out much of the state’s vegetation, making it easier for fires to spread.

Newsom said that since January, wildfires have burned some 207,415 acres in California — well above the 10,080 acres recorded during the same period last year, and exceeding the five-year average of 38,593 acres burned.

According to the American Lung Association (ALA), toxic air pollution levels in the United States are at their highest level in 25 years.

An ALA report found that 39% of Americans live in areas where air pollution levels are harmful to health.

To determine the increased pollution levels, the ALA looked at daily and annual averages of particulate and ozone pollution released by factories and refineries.

California was found to have six of the ten worst-off cities, and more than 33.2 million people live in those areas.