Health warning after US fires
2007-10-27 16:21
Los Angeles - Even as many of the wildfires in flame-ravaged Southern California died down and residents returned home, lingering dust and soot-laden air made it difficult for many to breathe even a sigh of relief on Saturday.
Air quality remained poor in the central San Bernardino Mountains and parts of the San Bernardino Valley, as well as swaths of Orange and Riverside Counties. In San Diego County, where only two of five major fires was more than 50% contained, the air was especially dismal on Friday.
Satellite pictures showed thick smoke continuing to hang over the entire region, affecting schools, events and the health of residents all over Southern California.
Residents staying in areas with bad air were advised to avoid exerting themselves. Children and people with heart and respiratory conditions were urged to stay indoors with the windows and doors closed and the air conditioner on.
"In the immediate aftermath of a fire, we're all at risk of the fine particulate matter we can inhale," said Julia Robinson Shimizu, a spokesperson for Breathe LA. "In general it's good to limit outdoor strenuous activity at least seven days after the fires have ended."
The University of California San Diego Medical Centre saw an increase in patients coming in with breathing troubles they believe were related to air pollution, spokesperson Jackie Carr said.
Mayor Jerry Sanders said the NFL's San Diego Chargers would play Sunday's football game scheduled at Qualcomm. The stadium can seat more than 70 000 people.
Homes under threat
Meanwhile, about 23 000 homes were still threatened by five major blazes in three counties. Altogether, more than a dozen fires raced across more than 203 561 hectares - the equivalent of 2 036 sq kilometres - although many of the blazes have been contained.
At least three people - and possibly as many as seven - have been killed by flames. About 1 700 homes have been destroyed and damage estimates have surpassed one billion dollars.
On Friday, tens of thousands of displaced families began returning to their fire-ravaged communities, but it will likely be months or even years before they recover what they left behind when they fled giant walls of flames.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's office said he would appear on Saturday at an Orange County fire command post to discuss efforts to find arsonists and to warn about charlatans peddling insurance scams to fire victims.
On Friday, the governor signed an executive order he said would cut red tape by directing state agencies to aid fire victims with such things as filing for tax extensions and unemployment insurance.
On the other side of the Cleveland National Forest, residents in the Riverside County town of Corona worried that flames they had watched on the news all week might reach them. They filled an elementary school on Friday to hear that there was no imminent threat. Some packed valuables in their cars, just in case.
Also on Friday, Senator Dianne Feinstein urged Congressional leaders to provide an additional one billion dollars for firefighting and fire recovery efforts.
- AP