For immediate release from Ventura County Air Pollution Control District.​​

District warns that Hughes Fire causes unhealthy conditions

(VENTURA, Calif. — Jan. 22, 2025) The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District is issuing an Air Quality Alert because unhealthy conditions exist.

Smoke from the Hughes Fire is causing the Air Quality Index (AQI) to fall in the unhealthy range for everyone in Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Oxnard, Piru, Santa Paula, Simi Valley and Ventura. Smoke and ash from wildfires contain very small particles that can harm the lungs and heart.

The district issues Air Quality Alerts when the AQI has reached or is forecast to reach an unhealthy level for all. A lower AQI can affect sensitive groups. This includes children, older adults and people with heart disease or respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema.

The alert is in effect until conditions improve.

When air quality reaches an unhealthy level for you or when you see or smell smoke, Ventura County Public Health recommends that you:

• Stay indoors as much as possible, preferably in a “clean room” with an indoor air filtration device where you can avoid cooking or burning candles.
• Close all windows and doors that lead outside unless it is extremely hot.
• Operate home and car air conditioners in recycle or recirculation mode. Close the fresh air intake and replace dirty filters.
• Avoid strenuous outdoor activity. If you must work outside, wear a properly fitted N95 mask.

The very small particles that pose a danger are PM2.5, particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. An AQI forecast for PM2.5 reflects what is possible for a 24-hour day. At times, air quality is likely to be better or worse than what is indicated for the entire period. Levels of smoke and particles and the areas affected will vary over time. Conditions can change rapidly depending on winds.

For real-time data on air quality, check the AirNow NowCast AQI at www.airnow.gov or fire.airnow.gov. AirNow uses hourly data from the district’s five monitoring stations throughout the county to provide air quality information for the surrounding regions.

Ventura County farmworkers can receive text and audio alerts when wildfire smoke increases the AQI to unhealthy and hazardous levels. To sign up, text “SMOKE” for English or “HUMO” for Spanish, Mixteco and Zapoteco messages to 855-522-0034.

People can get Daily Air Quality Reports from the district by signing up to receive emails at vcapcd.org or by following the district on the social platform X.

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MEDIA NOTE: For more information on air quality, contact Air Quality Meteorologist Tommy Winning at tommy@vcapcd.org or 805-303-3894 or PIO Karin Grennan at karin@vcapcd.org or 805-303-4002. For health information, contact Ventura County Public Health PIO Jennifer Palomino at PH-PIO@ventura.org or 805-981-5383.