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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Add ocean waters to the list of potential perils growing out of the wildfires devastating the Los Angeles area.
The L.A. County Department of Public Health on Thursday issued an Ocean Water Advisory, warning Southland beach users to avoid all water contact due to runoff from firefighting efforts.
The warning applies to ocean and bay recreational waters from Surfrider Beach to Dockweiler State Beach at World Way, "especially near discharging storm drains, creeks, rivers and fire damaged ocean front properties," the agency said in a statement.
"This includes any runoff that may flow onto or pond on the beach sand," the statement added.
The health department said the advisory was issued "due to the unknown quantity of firefighting runoff, including potentially toxic chemicals and debris, that have entered the ocean as a result of firefighting efforts."
People who enter the water in these areas could become ill, the advisory warned.
The advisory will remain in effect until three days after firefighting efforts end and notification is provided by the health department.
Recorded information on beach conditions is available 24/7 on the county's beach closure hotline at 1-800-525-5662. A map of impacted locations, and more information, is available at PublicHealth.LACounty.gov/Beach/.
