Area Again Sizzles but Relief May Be Arriving : Weather: Meanwhile, the second consecutive health advisory alert in Simi Valley urges residents to stay indoors and avoid vigorous activity.

Seeking relief from inland temperatures that soared into the 90s, Ventura County residents blanketed the county’s beaches Saturday as forecasters predicted a gradual easing of the unseasonable hot spell.

In the east county, air pollution officials issued a health advisory for Simi Valley for the second straight day, but pollution levels were expected to decline today.

The health advisory from the Air Pollution Control District--which followed a similar alert Friday--warned Simi Valley residents to stay indoors and avoid vigorous activity.

The advisory covered only Simi Valley, where the pollutant index for ozone was expected to hit 140. But any reading over 100 is considered unhealthful, and the ozone level was expected to hit 125 in Ojai, 120 in Thousand Oaks and Fillmore, and 100 in Oxnard.

The district office was closed Saturday and actual readings were not available.

Simi Valley will probably have lower but still unhealthy levels of smog today, officials said, while air quality in other parts of the county returns to the moderate range.

Both the cooler temperatures and improved air quality that forecasters predicted were attributed to a stronger onshore flow of ocean breezes.

“I think this is about as warm as it’s going to get,” said meteorologist Jay Stockton of the National Weather Service on Saturday. Highs Saturday ranged from 77 in Ventura to 96 in Ojai. The mercury hit 91 in Thousand Oaks and it was believed to be even hotter in Simi Valley, though no official figure was available.

Stockton predicted that today’s temperatures will be in the mid to upper 80s in Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley, while Ventura and Oxnard will again see temperatures in the upper 70s.

Saturday’s heat drew more than 100 swimmers to the pool at Rancho Simi Community Park, said Bryan McQueen, the weekend manager of the park. “It’s really hot. I’m going to jump in the water myself pretty soon.”

Dozens of east county residents drove to the Simi pool to cool off.

“We wanted to bring her out to experience the plunge,” said Moorpark resident Michael Kenealy, guiding his 3-year-old daughter through the water. Kenealy said he was unaware of the unhealthful air hanging over the valley.

“I haven’t really noticed,” he said. “Maybe we’re just becoming used to it.”

But Erika Filippeloi said her body tells her when the ozone is bad.

“My sinuses start running like crazy and my eyes run,” she said, pulling a wad of Kleenex from her pocket. The Simi Valley resident brought her five children to the pool to chill out.

Lifeguard Nicole Fava said the smog was so bad she could smell it.

“It smells like the back of a bus,” she said, scrunching her nose and frowning. “When I was driving to Northridge last night I could see it.”

The unhealthy pollution level caught some outdoor enthusiasts unaware. Tennis diehards Andy Smith and Ed Roberts scampered across the courts at Rancho Simi Community Park, unaware of the health advisory warning them not to partake in vigorous exercise.

“I just commented on how it felt a little smoggy,” Smith said, taking a large gulp of water during a break in the game.

“I just thought I was getting old,” Roberts said.

Despite the unhealthful conditions, the Simi Valley residents said they planned to go on with their game.

“Yeah, we’re going to play some more,” Roberts said. “Just get the paramedics ready.”

Many escaped the smog by heading to the coast. More than 4,000 people lined the sands of San Buenaventura State Beach, lifeguards said, and more were expected today.

“I can’t see why you wouldn’t want to come out here,” lifeguard supervisor Kirk Sturm said. “It’s a beautiful sunny day. Not too windy, clean air and cool water.”

Cars lined roadsides up and down the coast as people staked out their favorite piece of beachside property. Steve and Dierdre Ray of Oxnard spread out their towels at Oxnard’s Mandalay Beach with their two young daughters.

“I love this beach,” a very tan Dierdre Ray said. “It’s clean and not too crowded. We come here all the time.”

While their 6-year-old daughter, Farren, played in the surf on her boogey board and 2-year-old Lauren played on a nearby swing set, the couple sat and chatted with friends.

Across the beach, dotted with sun worshippers, Don Gandy was reeling in his 10-year-old son Travis’ rainbow-colored kite.

“We come out here every time we can,” Gandy said. “It gets a little crowded when it gets hot like this, but that’s OK.”