* WHAT...THE SOUTH COAST AQMD HAS ISSUED AN AIR QUALITY ALERT DUE TOINCREASED FINE PARTICLE POLLUTION FROM WILDFIRE SMOKE. VISIT HTTPS: WWW.AQMD.GOV ALERTINFO TO CHECK CURRENT AND FORECASTED AIR QUALITY LEVELS.

* WHERE...IN THE SAN GORGONIO PASS, THE COACHELLA VALLEY, LAKE ELSINORE AND HEMET-SAN JACINTO VALLEY. LEVELS OF PARTICLE POLLUTION CAN VARY BY TIME AND LOCATION DEPENDING ON FIRE ACTIVITY AND LOCAL WEATHER CONDITIONS.

* WHEN...UNTIL 5 PM WEDNESDAY.

* IMPACTS...PARTICLES IN WILDFIRE SMOKE CAN GET DEEP INTO THE LUNGS AND CAUSE SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS SUCH AS HEART ATTACKS, STROKES, ASTHMA ATTACKS, AND DIFFICULTY BREATHING. EVERYONE CAN BE AFFECTED, BUT PEOPLE WITH LUNG OR HEART DISEASE, OLDER ADULTS, PEOPLE WHO ARE PREGNANT, CHILDREN, AND THOSE WHO SPEND A LOT OF TIME OUTDOORS ARE AT GREATER RISK.