As thousands of acres burn across Southern California, wildfire smoke is causing poor air quality in the region and beyond.

The catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles County have caused toxic air in the region. NBC News' Steve Patterson reports on the threat and how people can protect themselves.

As wildfires blaze in California, many are evacuating while firefighters work to extinguish the flames. Residents in and around this area are now dealing with poor air quality, which can be especially concerning for older individuals,

Staying indoors and making sure the air quality in your home is clean from wildfire smoke are two of the CDC's top safety recommendations.

Evacuating a wildfire area can be scary, but experts say people can significantly improve their own safety with a little preparation and situational awareness.

E veryone I know out west lives under the shadow of impending smoke, and a lot of us have had to evacuate at some point due to an encroaching fire, like the ones raging in L.A. ri