Los Angeles: Toxic Smokes from Large Fires Threaten Resident Health · Global Voices

Large fires in Los Angeles may have burned thousands of acres and homes, while threatening the health of residents. Los Angeles health authorities warned residents yesterday Saturday (11.01.2025) against the health risks caused by the huge fires that destroy suburbs of the second largest U.S. urban center, urging them to avoid going out. CORVERSE Fires have caused huge disasters in the big city since the beginning of the week, resulting in toxic clouds in the atmosphere. “We are all faced with forest fires smoke, which is a mixture of microparticles, gases and steamed water,” stressed Anish Mahajan, of the Los Angeles County Public Health Department, during a press conference. “It is these microparticles that penetrate our nose and throat and cause sore throat and headache,” he continued. ADVERSION “In areas where tobacco is visible or where the smell of smoke is intense, even where you do not see it, we know that air quality is bad, so you must limit every exposure abroad as much as possible,” added Dr. Mahajan. According to him, even people with good health should stay indoors as long as possible and use air filtering systems. Those who need to work abroad are good to wear masks that filter microparticles, he recommended. Young people, elderly people, and patients must pay particular attention, he insisted. Multiple fires around Los Angeles charred vast areas, turning into excavated homes, businesses, vehicles, and vegetation. Which means that plastic materials, chemicals, fuels and construction materials were burned, spreading toxic microparticles into the atmosphere of the highly densely populated area. The other day Friday, Los Angeles County declared a state of health emergency due to tobacco and banned the use of machinery such as blowers, as they may spread dangerous ashes. Within five days, California state fires left behind at least 11 dead, while over 12,000 dwellings and over 150,000 acres of vegetation were converted into ashes.