Effects will linger long after fire is gone

VIC LEIPZIG AND LOU MURRAY

The air is filled with choking smoke. Ash rained down on Huntington

Beach all weekend. Our driveways, cars, patio furniture, roofs and

roadways are covered with the burned debris of ruined habitat and

homes to the east of us. It seems like the entire Southland is on

fire. With school closures, air travel cancellations and delays, and

smoke everywhere, millions are affected. The fires throughout

Southern California have definitely had an impact here.

We rented the video “Bambi” this weekend. As Bambi, Thumper,

Flower, and their forest friends ran from the flames, it reminded us

of all the habitat here that is being lost to fire, and of the deer

and other animals that will die or be displaced. And as in the famous

Disney movie, the fires burning in the Southland today are the of

man’s carelessness or maliciousness.

As sad as the loss of habitat and animal life is, the loss of

human lives and homes in these fires is far more tragic. The

chaparral ecosystem is adapted to fire, and indeed needs occasional

fires to stay healthy. The ecosystem will recover with time, but the

tragedy these fires brought to human lives is incalculable.

We were on the phone much of the weekend, staying in touch with

our son Scott, who lives near the path of one fire in San Diego

County. On Sunday, he and his girlfriend, Nicole, evacuated her

mother. Scott said that as they loaded goods from the house into

their vehicles until they were told to evacuate.

Nicole’s step dad told Scott to tell them to wait, that he needed

more time to get stuff out. Scott replied, “Tell who to wait? The

fire won’t wait. We have to leave now.”

Insurance will replace the furnishings and trappings, but it won’t

replace life itself. Tragically, some didn’t get out in time, were

trapped by the fire and lost their lives.

Nicole’s mom, along with her dog and bird, took shelter with Scott

and Nicole. But when they reached their home, they discovered that it

too was threatened. Scott and Nicole piled things in the living room

-- pet carriers, photographs and important papers -- and prepared to

evacuate if needed.

In the end, as the fires die out and life returns to normal, the

effect on our health will linger on.

Breathing the ash, soot and smoke from these fires irritates the

lungs. This causes swelling of the lung tissue and an inflammatory

response. The white blood cell count goes up as our bodies fight the

foreign invaders in our lungs -- all those soot particles. And of

course, as the lung tissue swells, the heart must work harder to pump

blood through the lungs.

Most people will experience no more than a sore throat and cough.

Sensitive people will have asthma attacks or breathing difficulties.

Some could even have heart attacks as a result.

The aftermath of breathing smoke can last for longer than the

smoke itself. Once that inflammatory response is set in motion, the

effects will linger for several days. It would be wise to avoid

exertion for the rest of the week, and keep children indoors. The

more air that is pulled into the lungs during these smoky days, the

more fine particulate matter is inhaled. These fine particles, called

PM10, cause long-term lung damage. We have a HEPA air filter that

takes these particles out of the air indoors. We have it running on

high, but despite our best efforts, the smell of smoke pervades our

home. Still, it is far better indoors than outdoors.

As Bambi’s mother said, “Run, Bambi. Man is in the forest.”

* VIC LEIPZIG and LOU MURRAY are Huntington Beach residents and

environmentalists. They can be reached at vicleipzig@aol.com.