California Residents Urged to Make Preparations to Protect Against Smoke Exposure from Wildfires

After weeks of devastating wildfires across the state, California’s KPIX recently broadcasted a story about the Bay Area county health departments urging residents to be prepared to protect their respiratory health from smoke caused by wildfires. The report highlighted breathing difficulties caused by wildfire smoke and steps people can take to help smoke-proof their homes.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Indoor Environments Division also announced a new webpage with information to protect families from wildfire smoke indoors. Included tips for creating a clean room to safeguard indoor air quality (IAQ). The EPA recommends setting up a clean room at home to reduce exposure to dangerous or unhealthy wildfire smoke while indoors in cases where residents have not been ordered to evacuate. It is important to always remember that conditions can change quickly, so people should always be prepared to evacuate if necessary.

“Having a clean room in place can help to minimize exposure hazards to microscopic particles from wildfires that get into people’s eyes and respiratory systems,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “A clean room can be especially helpful for sensitive individuals like the very young, very old and people with heart or lung problems.”

The EPA’s information about how to create a clean room includes simple but effective tips to achieve a healthier indoor environment when one of these natural disasters strike. To help disseminate the agency’s recommendations, LA Testing recently sponsored an online video that includes the agency’s suggestions. The video can be seen at: https://youtu.be/wBHIH_eTszA.

LA Testing offers smoke residue, indoor and outdoor air testing services, sampling supplies, test kits, air monitoring equipment and even a wide range of respirators. To learn more about this, please visit www.LATesting.com, email  info@LATesting.com  or call (800) 755-1794. To access smoke residue or other indoor environmental quality (IEQ) test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.


About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro, San Diego and Ontario.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

LA Testing

(1) 856-303-2503

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