UCI Health reminds people to be aware of air quality

August 07, 2018

UCI Health reminds people in Orange and Riverside counties to be mindful of the potential effects of smoke from the Holy Fire in the Cleveland National Forest. 

“People with asthma and other respiratory conditions, especially older adults and children, should remain indoors in order to minimize exposure to poor air quality caused by the wild fire,” said William C. Wilson, MD, MA, chief medical officer for UCI Health. “Those experiencing respiratory distress are encouraged to go to their physician or the nearest emergency room for evaluation.

According to the latest information from the National Forest Service, the burn area centered around Holy Jim Canyon and Trabuco Canyon is at approximately 4,000 acres with four percent containment.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District indicates that downslope winds in the early morning hours may bring smoke into the valleys west and southwest of the fire. Air quality may reach “Unhealthy” levels or higher in areas directly impacted by smoke, including all regions of Orange County.

For more information on the Air Quality Index, please visit http://www.aqmd.gov/ and see alerts.

About UCI Health: UCI Health comprises the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Patients can access UCI Health at physician offices throughout Orange County and at its main campus, UCI Medical Center in Orange, California. The 417-bed acute care hospital provides tertiary and quaternary care, ambulatory and specialty medical clinics, and behavioral health and rehabilitation services. UCI Medical Center features Orange County’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program, Level I trauma center and Level II pediatric trauma center, and it’s the primary teaching hospital for the UCI School of Medicine. UCI Health serves a region of more than 3 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.