LOS ANGELES -- With levels of sooty air pollution far too high across swaths of the Los Angeles area, Dana Benton is sleeping with a mask on, even with her air purifier running.

As levels of sooty air pollution have gone far too high across swaths of the Los Angeles area, people are taking adequate precautions—wearing masks, buying air purifiers, and staying indoors to protect from the toxic smoke—erupting from burning cars and houses to protect themselves from air pollution.

As smoke pours from the intense wildfires currently scorching Los Angeles, air quality has plummeted across the city due to particulate pollution.