Hot and Bothered : Sudden Swelter Brings Double Dose of Smog

If it’s hot and smoggy, it must be summer in Simi Valley.

Temperatures that soared well into the 90s and pollution that rendered the air unhealthful to breathe sent Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks residents to parks and pools Monday to seek relief.

“Our preschool had a wet-and-wild play day in the pools today,” said Debbie Smith, recreation leader for the Conejo Recreation and Park District. “They had a great time splashing and throwing water.”

The heat and air pollution in Simi Valley, the smoggiest city in Ventura County, sent one woman’s lungs into spasms that landed her in the emergency room at Simi Valley Hospital on Monday morning, said Dr. Gurdip Flora, who treated the woman.

The woman, who is in her early 40s, has a history of asthma, Flora said. “She had been doing well, but this morning she just went out of control,” he said.

Four more patients with lung problems also called Monday to schedule visits, Flora said.

“We usually don’t see patients on Mondays,” he said. “But if the weather stays like this, we will probably be bombarded this week.”

He advised all those with health problems as well as the elderly to stay indoors on smoggy days, which are expected to continue for at least the first half of the week.

Although temperatures were expected to taper off slightly today and Wednesday throughout the county, the smoggy air will probably linger in the inland valleys, said Kent Field, a meteorologist with the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District.

“Not only is the air stagnant, but we’re still producing pollutants in Oxnard and Ventura and Camarillo, which will get pushed out to Simi in the afternoon,” he said. “And we’re also getting pollutants from Los Angeles County. And we are nearing the longest day of the year.”

All of which makes for smoggy days.

Ozone, the main component of smog, is produced when pollutants from cars and other sources mix in heat and sunlight. Ozone can constrict the body’s air passages, making it difficult for people with lung or allergy problems to breathe.

But along the coast, where the air quality was good, sun-seekers at Hollywood Beach welcomed the warm temperatures and clear skies.

“Perfect weather for a family outing,” said Megan Brasher of Oxnard, who pulled daughters Whitney, 3, and Olivia, 2, in a wagon after an hour on the hot sand. “Monday’s usually such a gloomy day, but today’s beautiful.”

Carolyn Herrera, carrying 3-month-old Jonathan, agreed.

“Best weather we’ve had in weeks,” she said. “It’s been so overcast and ugly lately.”

For Nicole Cushingberry of Oxnard, it was a chance to break out her orange bikini.

“It’s just the second time this year that it’s been warm enough to wear it,” she said. “It should’ve been summer about a month ago.”

In the eastern end of the county, Kelly Shea of Simi Valley, who is almost nine months pregnant, decided to spend the day with family and friends at a nearby park.

“I just have a swamp cooler at home,” she said, sitting in the shade of a large sycamore tree at Rancho Tapo Community Park as she watched her three children play. “It’s much cooler here. I think it was about 95 degrees in my house.”

At Thousand Oaks Community Park, restaurant manager Larry Fox brought his two children out in hopes of finding a community swimming pool.

“But they aren’t open yet,” he said. “Oh well, playing at the park is the next best thing.”

Public pools in the east county open in 10 days, after the last day of school.

But meteorologist Field said that some late-night and morning fog would begin to creep back along the coast today. That would signal a return of the normal June pattern for the coast, where air quality has remained good.

That pattern also will bring slightly cooler temperatures inland, but as long as the air remains stagnant, the smog could persist, Field said.

“The air is just not moving around too much, so the stuff we put into the air when we drive our cars to the market is hanging around,” Field said. “People have to know they are part of the problem.”

Correspondent Andrew Blechman contributed to this article.