Some Orange County residents may be smelling smoke early Friday, July 17, without an obvious source.
A small vegetation fire in Camp Pendleton that started Thursday, July 16, is “largely responsible for the smoke impacts in Orange County,” the South Coast Air Quality Management District said in an email to the USA TODAY Network.
It comes as the Thorn Fire has burned over 1,200 acres in San Diego County since it broke on Wednesday, July 15.
Smoke from the fire at Camp Pendleton increased last night and this morning, the South Coast AQMD said. However, the smoke impacts in Orange County “are expected to decrease in the next few hours” as winds shift to blow from the west, according to the South Coast AQMD.
Camp Pendleton said on July 16 that its fire department responded to a vegetation fire in the northwestern portion of its base. Road closures triggered by the fire have since been lifted, according to Camp Pendleton.
What is the air quality near me?
People can check the air quality index of their area at airnow.gov.
The air quality for much of Orange County is moderate on the Air Quality Index as of the morning of Friday, July 17. South Coast AQMD said on its website that windblown ash particles may be too large to be detected by air quality instrumentation and as a result, isn’t reflected in the AQI map. South Coast AQMD encourages people to take precautions if they see or smell smoke.
Where are wildfires? See CA fire map
See smoke map
Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at pbarraza@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is there a fire in Orange County? Why you may be smelling smoke Friday
