The Mojave Air Quality Management District has issues an official smoke advisory due to impacts from the Dam fire that broke out Thursday afternoon.
Heavy smoke, visible from across the High Desert, is moving up and over the San Gabriel mountains into the Mojave Desert Air Basin. Air quality sensor data shows impacts to ambient (breathable) air quality in Phelan and the immediate surrounding communities. Other areas of the MDAQMD jurisdiction were unaffected as of 3:45 p.m. Thursday. If smoke impacts further areas of jurisdiction, we’ll update this advisory.
At about 3:00pm, Thursday, July 30, 2020 Calfire PIO reported a new incident called the Dam Fire (#DamFire). The fire is located near San Gabriel Canyon Road and Silverfish road near Morris Reservoir in Los Angeles County. As of 4:15pm over 240 acres have burned. 14 aircraft are “in the attack.” Evacuations are in effect North of Morris Dam ot Crystal Lake. Highway 39 is closed.
In any area impacted by smoke:
• everyone should avoid any vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion;
• people with respiratory or heart disease, older adults, and children should remain indoors;
• keep windows and doors closed;
• run your air conditioner if you have one; recirculation function is ideal.
• avoid using a swamp cooler or whole-house fan to prevent bringing additional smoke inside.
Levels of smoke and particulates will depend on changes in winds and the containment of the fire. This advisory will be in effect as long as conditions warrant.
