The devastating wildfires in California are choking sections of the state with dangerous thick smog, prompting some cities to hand out masks.
Officials are warning against the perilous pollution that can even affect people living as many as a hundred miles from a fire.
“It is difficult to tell where ash or soot from a fire will go or how winds will affect the level of dust particles in the air, so we ask everyone to be aware of their immediate environment and to take actions to safeguard their health,” Dr. Muntu Davis, Los Angeles County’s health officer, told the Los Angeles Times.
South San Francisco and Daly City have been handing out masks to residents, and one group is raising money to hand out the mouth and nose coverings in Oakland.
Several stores in San Francisco sold out of masks Friday due to high demand, The San Francisco Business Times reported.
In Los Angeles, some residents took precautions by wearing masks when going out to brunch Sunday, according to a picture posted on Twitter by Los Angeles Times correspondent Matt Pearce.
Another image showed the City of Angels canopied by a thick cloud of gray smoke.
Even in areas where smoke isn’t visible and the air feels clean, pollution can enter the bloodstream and cause damage, doctors say.
Authorities have urged people to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary and to turn on air conditioning to let air circulate indoors.