An active wildfire in Riverside County is pushing hazardous smoke east through the San Gorgonio Pass and into the Coachella Valley and Inland Empire on Tuesday, prompting the South Coast Air Quality Management District to issue a smoke advisory covering millions of residents across the greater Los Angeles basin and the desert communities of Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indio and Coachella.
The Shore Fire: What’s Burning
The source of the air quality emergency is the Shore Fire, an active wildfire burning near San Timoteo Canyon Road southwest of Calimesa in Riverside County. As of Tuesday morning, the Shore Fire has burned approximately 2,053 acres and is only 20 percent contained, with CAL FIRE and Riverside County Fire Department crews using both air and ground resources to strengthen containment lines. Mandatory evacuation orders are in effect for zones RVC-0231-B and RVC-0231-C, where residents face an immediate threat to life.
Smoke from the fire is channeling east through the San Gorgonio Pass — one of the most efficient natural wind corridors in Southern California — spreading fine particulate matter across the Coachella Valley, the San Jacinto Valley, the Hemet area and the Lake Elsinore corridor.
Who Is Under the Alert and When
The South Coast AQMD issued its air quality alert from 9:30 PM Monday through 5 PM Tuesday. The advisory covers San Bernardino and Riverside County valleys, the Inland Empire, Riverside County mountains, the Santa Ana Mountains and foothills, the Coachella Valley, and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning — including Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, Moreno Valley, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Corona, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indio and Coachella.
Fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke is not the same as standard smog or ozone. Particles can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, asthma attacks, and difficulty breathing, the AQMD warned — and this is not a risk limited to sensitive populations. Everyone can be affected, with people who have lung or heart disease, older adults, pregnant women, children and anyone who spends extended time outdoors at greater risk.
Protecting Yourself From Wildfire Smoke
The AQMD guidance is specific and practical. Remain indoors with windows and doors closed and run an air conditioner or air purifier. Do not use swamp coolers or whole-house fans that pull in outside air — an important warning for the Coachella Valley, where evaporative cooling is widely used and residents may not realize it draws smoke directly inside.
If you must go outdoors, keep the time brief and wear a well-fitting N-95 mask — not a cloth mask, which does not filter fine particles. Avoid adding indoor pollution by skipping fireplaces, candles, incense, grilling and gas-powered lawn equipment while the alert is in effect.
Tracking Conditions in Real Time
Smoke levels vary significantly by hour and location as fire activity and wind patterns shift. The AQMD updates its monitoring data continuously — check current and forecast air quality at aqmd.gov/alertinfo or through the free EPA AirNow app. Anyone who smells smoke or sees ash should treat conditions as unhealthy and move indoors immediately.
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