The Los Angeles wildfires have killed at least two dozen people and decimated thousands of structures. Yet even in areas that aren’t burning, plumes of smoke remain a serious and ongoing public health threat—especially as the region braces for dangerous winds that could fuel the spread of ash and smoke. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] “Certainly air pollution problems are nothing new for people who live in Los Angeles and Southern California, but this is a little bit different,” says Dr.