An August smoke advisory near Gorman is a useful reminder for Los Angeles homeowners: your cooling plan should also cover days when outdoor air is smoky. On August 7, 2026, Los Angeles County Public Health announced an advisory for smoke from the Ridge Fire, with expected impacts along the I-5 corridor between Castaic Lake and Lebec. That notice ran through 2 p.m. on August 8; it is not a current countywide alert.
The practical next step is to check your home’s filtration and AC settings before another smoke event. A system that keeps rooms cool may still need additional filtration to reduce smoke exposure.
Quick Answer: Keeping Indoor Air Cleaner During Smoke
Keep doors and windows closed when it is safe to do so, use recirculated air where your system allows it, and run appropriate particle filtration. If the home cannot stay safely cool, seek a cooler location with cleaner air. Always follow evacuation instructions.
Check South Coast AQMD’s current advisories for the affected locations and valid dates rather than relying on a previous fire’s notice.
Why a Fire Outside Your Neighborhood Still Matters
South Coast AQMD warns that smoke can affect communities many miles from a fire and that conditions can change quickly. Children, older adults, pregnant people, and people with heart or lung conditions can be especially sensitive.
Keeping smoke outdoors starts with reducing the ways it can enter. The EPA’s wildfire indoor-air guidance explains that outdoor smoke can get inside through openings, building leaks, and ventilation systems. Closing windows helps, but does not make a home smoke-proof.
Check the Filter and the Fresh-Air Intake
For central HVAC, EPA recommends MERV 13 filtration, or the highest efficiency the system can accommodate. Have a technician check compatibility and fit rather than assuming every unit can accept the same filter.
If your system has a fresh-air intake, learn how to close that intake or select recirculation during a smoke event. Not every residential system has a fresh-air intake or a thermostat button labeled “recirculate.” Follow the equipment instructions and restore normal ventilation when outdoor conditions improve.
Check filters during smoke events and replace them when needed. A higher rating alone will not solve a poor fit or a filter that has become heavily loaded. These are useful items to review during an HVAC maintenance visit.
Choose Particle Filtration for Smoke
A properly sized portable HEPA air cleaner can supplement central filtration or provide cleaner air in a bedroom. EPA’s indoor air filtration guidance recommends choosing by the smoke clean air delivery rate, or CADR, and the room size. Place the cleaner where air can circulate around it and follow its filter-maintenance instructions.
Avoid devices marketed primarily as ozone generators. EPA also does not recommend UV, photocatalytic oxidation, or similar technologies for smoke removal: these are not substitutes for particle filters, and some can produce ozone or other pollutants. Evaluate what a product actually removes rather than relying on a label such as “air scrubber.”
Stay Cool and Recheck Conditions
AQMD recommends running AC with a clean filter and using a portable high-efficiency or HEPA cleaner to create a room with filtered air. It also advises avoiding whole-house fans and evaporative coolers that draw outdoor air inside when you can stay cool without them. Avoid adding indoor smoke from candles, incense, or wood-burning appliances.
Smoke preparation should fit into your household’s heat action plan, including somewhere else to go if you cannot maintain a safe indoor environment.
If ash has entered the home, follow AQMD’s cleanup guidance. Use appropriate protective equipment and methods that limit dust, such as HEPA vacuuming or gentle damp cleaning. Visible ash or persistent indoor smoke problems call for an assessment of the conditions; an expired outdoor advisory does not by itself confirm that cleanup is complete.
Prepare Before the Next Advisory
A/C Control can help assess your HVAC filter, airflow, and available ventilation settings so you understand what your system can do during smoky weather. Contact us to arrange an indoor air quality assessment and discuss filtration options suited to your home.
