Soot washes up in sea

Four days of fierce fires throughout the Southland have taken their toll on the waters and coastal regions of Newport Beach.

Wildlife living in the Newport Upper Bay have been relatively untouched by the soot in the air, although that may change once the ash begins to settle, said Jeff Stoddard of the Department of Fish and Game.

Right now the greatest concern for the bay lies in a possible influx of sediment during future rains as the charred hilltops — left rootless from the flames — fail to hold sediment and let it wash toward the ocean, Stoddard said. But for the most part, Newport Bay is safer than other areas exposed to such runoff.

The surf slowed after days of massive wave sets measuring 6 to 8 feet, now down to between 2 and 4, lifeguards said.

Severe Santa Ana winds contributed greatly to the earlier sets.

Curvy black lines track down the beaches as falling soot gets washed onto shore, although lifeguards have reported no unusual breathing issues with beachgoers.

“Not as many people are out running, so there have not been as many issues to report,” Lifeguard Mike Ure said. “There’s been ash falling and it’s much darker, and you can’t see the sun. It’s kind of like you’re in fog all day.”

— Kelly Strodl