3 Separate Wildfires Burn, IE, RivCo Under Air Quality Alert: What To Know

BANNING, CA — If you see haze in the air or smell smoke, there's a reason for that. Three separate fires ignited Sunday across Riverside County in Banning, Moreno Valley, and Aguanga.

Because of this, the South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a Smoke Advisory overnight that would last through Monday, they said. That advisory was specifically for areas affected by the Wolf Fire in the Banning Pass Area and the Mindy Fire in the Anza and Aguanga area of Riverside County. The Smiley Fire, now 100% contained near Moreno Valley, on the border of Riverside County and San Bernardino County, still smolders.

Mid-morning, the air appeared to be clearing in much of Riverside County; however, due to windblown ash particles too large to be detected by air quality instrumentation, which may not appear in the most recent Air Quality Index (AQI) map.

"Although the AQI may show green, hazardous ash may be present in the air," officials said. If you smell smoke or see ash, such as drifting in the air or piling on outdoor surfaces or the ground, please take precautions. See www.aqmd.gov/smokesafety for details.

"Smoke will most heavily impact the areas near the fires," the advisory reads. "PM2.5 levels may reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups AQI category or higher in the Banning Pass, San Jacinto Mountains, Lake Riverside, the Cahuilla Reservation, and the Anza area, with the highest AQI expected overnight Sunday."

PM2.5 is fine, inhalable particles with diameters that are 2.5 micrometers and smaller, according to the Environmental Protection Agency's website.

Residents were advised to avoid using swamp coolers or whole-house fans that bring in outside air, according to the AQMD. They were also warned to avoid burning wood in fireplaces or fire pits and to wear a properly fitting N95 mask or P100 respirator if they had to venture outside.

Real-time air quality readings are available on the South Coast AQMD App or by viewing the Air Quality Index map at the bottom of the home page at www.AQMD.gov