Los Angeles wildfires: How to check the air quality near you

The Southern California wildfires continue to rage, devastating areas around Los Angeles, including Pacific Palisades, Hurst and Pasadena.

Over 180,000 people had to evacuate their homes, and above 2,000 buildings were destroyed. The fires, which are widespread and windy, have not yet been contained and have stretched the limits of fire resources. However, according to the Los Angeles TimesCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom recruited more firefighters and resources, and President Biden provided federal support with air tankers from the US Forest Service.

Meanwhile, those who live in the area are undoubtedly affected by the air pollution caused by the fire’s smoke. According to AirNow, which is managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Park Service, NASA, the Centers for Disease Control and other federal agencies, the quality index of air (AQI) in the Los Angeles area is listed as “Unhealthy” measuring at 188 PM2.5. The site’s recommendation for this AQI level is to minimize outdoor activity, especially if you have symptoms or belong to a sensitive group.

AirNow is a great resource for checking the AQI index, but it’s not the only one. Below, we’ve compiled some of the best sites and apps to check air quality.

The Weather app for iPhone users

Did you know that Apple’s native Weather app provides information about air quality? If you open a location and scroll past the weekly forecast, you’ll find the air quality index. If you click on the widget, you will get more granular information on pollutant details and any relevant health information.

The World Air Quality Index Project

U World Air Quality Index Project is a collaboration of environmental agencies in the world. Its site compiles air quality data from 50,000 monitoring stations in 132 countries to provide real-time AQI statistics around the world. However, you can also visit specific areas monitored by local stations and get detailed current and historical information from each device.

AirNow

AirNow is a collaborative effort of federal agencies that provides air quality data across the United States. The site also has up-to-date wildfire information, resources, data and interactive maps to help users learn more about particular areas and how they might occur. affected There is also a free AirNow mobile app.

Air quality app

A quick search of the iOS or Android app store will yield numerous results for well-reviewed air quality apps. Unlike government-funded sites, these apps are a bit cleaner and provide more features and ways to customize your preferences. For example, many apps, such as IQAir, Matter of the airand the Plume Labs app, provides multi-day air quality forecasts, and Paku provides real-time hyperlocal AQI data.

There are also apps specifically designed for tracking fires, such as The fire and Watch Dutywhich provides real-time data on fire perimeters, evacuation orders, wind conditions and air quality.