The chemical composition of the smoke and ash in Los Angeles right now is different from forest fire smoke, which is plenty toxic on its own, said Lim. The more than 40,000 acres that have burned ...

Smoke and ash could poison plankton and other organisms that form the foundation of the marine food chain, biologists say. Heavy smoke, ash and debris from Southern California’s raging wildfires ...

Along with the wildfires, residents must deal with other hazards: smoke and ash. Smoke is made of tiny particles. Smoke particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller in size—known as PM2.5—are ...