Photo: Heal the Bay
Getting back in the water after any kind of tragedy is a natural reflex for surfers. Whether we want to forget our worries for a minute or need a reminder that we’ve found something in day-to-day life that never fails to bring at least a little bit of joy, the ocean doesn’t let us down.
Nobody would blame Angelenos if they’ve turned to looking for waves as a bit of temporary relief this past week after fires ravaged parts of the city, but public health officials have been advising against it (and still are).
Shortly after wildfires began in Los Angeles on Tuesday, the city’s County Department of Public Health issued an Ocean Water advisory. The department advised “beach users to avoid all water contact, especially near discharging storm drains, creeks, and rivers due to potential debris from fires and contamination.” At the time they were acting out of an abundance of caution because of an unknown quantity of firefighting runoff. That included toxic chemicals and debris burning in the fires potentially finding its way into the ocean.
Surfers in the Los Angeles area should still exercise the same precautions, according to Heal the Bay and the County Department of Public Health. The two groups issued a water quality advisory for debris and ocean contamination extending from Surfrider Beach in Malibu all the way down to Dockweiler Beach, which sits right outside of LAX. A quick look shows that the water quality is impacted well beyond that area though, even extending down to Inner Cabrillo Beach (about a two hour drive south of Malibu on a good day).
The County Department of Public Health’s initial notice advised staying clear of contact with ocean water for three days after firefighting efforts had stopped. When that day comes is still anybody’s guess, as Wednesday was the first day that Red Flag Warnings around the region had been dropped with wind conditions easing and the threat of new fires fading. The Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire, however, are still being fought after burning nearly 24,000 acres and more than 14,000 acres respectively.
