On July 14th, South Coast AQMD, IQAir Foundation (IQAir), and the Los Angeles County and Orange County chapters of the American Red Cross (ARC) delivered 183 air purifiers to ARC’s warehouse in Bell, California. In the event of adverse air quality from wildfires, these HealthPro Plus air purifiers will be deployed to temporary clean air centers in the South Coast Air Basin, which will also be equipped with cots, blankets, wildfire kits, and medical caches for immediate healthcare needs for impacted residents. The air purifiers are certified to filter 99.5% of particle pollutants (including bacteria and viruses) down to 0.003 microns in diameter, ensuring clean air in these centers.

This project is part of the California Air Resources Board’s AB 836 Wildfire Smoke Clean Air Centers for Vulnerable Populations Incentive Pilot Program, a statewide program that creates a network of clean air centers during wildfire events in vulnerable communities. Air purifiers provide a comprehensive approach to humanitarian aid and relief to residents during wildfire events.

The partnership between South Coast AQMD, IQAir and ARC shows that effective disaster management requires an emphasis on comfort and health, as well as safety measures. As wildfires continue to occur with increased frequency, vulnerable populations will require continued protection and care.