() — Rapidly spreading wildfires continue to rage across the Los Angeles area, releasing smoke that will likely have long-lasting tolls on air quality. 

Multiple wildfires have ripped through parts of Los Angeles County, all at 0% containment as of Wednesday afternoon. 

Officials have said more than 80,000 people are under evacuation orders because of all the fires.

How far will wildfire smoke travel?

While firefighters are working to put out the blaze, fires are actively producing smoke with northeasterly winds pushing smoke to the southwest towards Pasadena and downtown LA by Wednesday, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Smoke is expected to most heavily impact coastal, central, and southern Los Angeles County on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday, with winds pushing smoke throughout Orange County by Thursday, the agency stated. 

Even though smoke may initially stay regional, it will continue to travel. 

Wildfire smoke is known to extend far beyond the immediate fire zone, reaching hundreds or even thousands of miles. 

In 2023, smoke from Canadian wildfires not only spread across North America but traveled as far as Europe, reaching Norway, Portugal, and Spain and impacting air quality thousands of miles away from its origin, according to NASA. 

Five of the most destructive wildfire seasons of the last half-century have occurred in the past seven years.

“These wildfires can cause significant air pollution: burning biomass emits hundreds of reactive gases, including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, ammonia, and an array of volatile organic compounds,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

How bad will air quality get in Southern California?

According to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the potential direct smoke impact from the Palisades wildfire burning has caused “unhealthy” air quality in Los Angeles County. 

The grading has fluctuated between “hazardous,” which is the most extreme rating, to “unhealthy,” which is one notch below.

This fluctuation may continue over several days. 

The primary health concern is the small particles, which can cause burning eyes, runny nose, scratchy throat, headaches and illness, according to the Los Angeles County Health Department. 

People at higher risk, children, the elderly, those with respiratory or heart conditions and people with compromised immune systems may experience more severe effects such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, fatigue, and/or chest pain.

“Predicting where ash or soot from a fire will travel, or how winds will impact air quality, is difficult, so it’s important for everyone to stay aware of the air quality in your area, make plans, and take action to protect your health and your family’s health,” said Muntu Davis, health officer for Los Angeles County. “Smoke and ash can harm everyone, even those who are healthy. However, people at higher risk include children, older adults, pregnant individuals, and those with heart or lung conditions or weakened immune systems.”

Is wildfire smoke dangerous?

Short-term exposure to PM2.5, which is emitted from smoke, has been linked to premature death, hospital admissions, bronchitis, asthma attacks and other respiratory and cardiac problems, the California Air Resources Board said.

The particles can travel deep into the lungs, causing tissue damage and lung inflammation.

Particle pollution also triggers asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes and can cause death, according to the American Lung Association. 

Studies found that children in California who breathed the smoky air during wildfires had more coughing, wheezing, bronchitis, colds and were more likely to have to go to the doctor or to the hospital for respiratory causes, especially from asthma, the organization stated.