After air quality reached unhealthy levels in Boyle Heights on Sunday, several schools hosting summer programs announced they would move classes elsewhere on Monday as a precaution.
Students from Dena Elementary and Dacotah Early Education Center were relocated to Sunrise Elementary, Eastman Early Education Center students moved to Humphreys Elementary, and Stevenson Middle School students were moved to Belvedere Middle School, according to the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Schools across LAUSD’s Region East that were open for summer school said they would keep students inside.
“At all surrounding sites, all activities will take place indoors to support the health and safety of students and staff,” LAUSD said.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District extended its particle pollution advisory until 12:30 p.m. Monday, noting that air quality had ranged from very unhealthy to unhealthy for sensitive groups over the weekend. Conditions were expected to continue to shift as firefighting efforts continued.
“Ash may also deposit across the area,” the AQMD added. “Air quality monitors do not account for large ash particles and debris in the AQI readings. Take precautions to protect your health if you smell or see smoke or ash.”
Anyone in the impacted area — which extended from Boyle Heights east to Riverside — should take these steps, according to AQMD:
- Stay indoors with windows and doors closed or seek alternate shelter
- Avoid vigorous physical activity.
- Run your air conditioning and/or an air purifier. If possible, do not use swamp coolers or whole
house fans that bring in outside air
The Los Angeles Fire Department said Sunday night that they were making “significant progress” on the fire after removing sections of an exterior wall, allowing them to send water in. Officials previously described the cold storage facility as a 500,000-square-foot refrigerator, with thick walls and interior racks that made extinguishing the blaze uniquely challenging.
Firefighters also announced street closures and traffic control points in the area of the fire that they said were necessary to allow emergency vehicles access.
Closures include: Union Pacific Street and Calzona Street, Union Pacific Street and Indiana Street, Noakes Street and Calzona Street, Noakes Street and Indiana Street. LAFD said commercial vehicle traffic will still be allowed east and west on Noakes Street.
LAFD said Sunday they expect the smoky conditions to continue improving.
“Although smoke conditions are trending in a positive direction, intermittent increases in smoke may occur as crews open walls and other concealed spaces to locate and extinguish hidden fire,” an LAFD statement said.
Meanwhile, residents of neighboring homes were wearing masks as they tried to go about their daily life; smoke relief centers remained open at Pecan Recreation Center and City Terrace Park. Multiple people told Boyle Heights Beat they were concerned about the health impacts of multiple days of smoke.
Monitoring of the air is continuing, and so far, AQMD has said that no significant levels of air toxic metals have been detected. A reporter asked Mayor Karen Bass on Sunday if the air was dangerous.
“No, the air is not dangerous,” she said.
