Oroville, California – 9 September 2020

1.Orange haze over bridge

2. Orange haze over trees with car driving by

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San Juan Capistrano, California – 11 September 2020

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3. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Afif El-Hasan, American Lung Association spokesman:

"The wildfires have actually caused a significant problem, we've, especially in all parts of California, Oregon, Washington, have all been impacted."

Berry Creek, California – 9 September 2020

4. Orange haze with fire in background, with burned items near foreground

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San Juan Capistrano, California – 11 September 2020

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5. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Afif El-Hasan, American Lung Association spokesman:

"These particles in the air, the pollution, it weakens the lungs' defenses, because it irritates our  lungs. We have increased secretions in our lungs, in our upper airways. It can make it easier to get ill from a virus or other type of infection."

Oroville, California – 9 September 2020

6. Fire along road

7. Moving shot of street and smoke

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San Juan Capistrano, California – 11 September 2020

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9. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Afif El-Hasan, American Lung Association spokesman:

"This is also an increased risk to people who have chronic health problems. So if someone's an asthmatic, someone has other chronic lung disease and heart disease, the increased air pollution can be a problem for them as well."

Shaver Lake, California _ 8 September 2020

10. Fire and trees

11. Tree with smoke

12. Fire

Berry Creek, California – 9 September 2020

13. Pan of orange air, burned area

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A dense smoke layer from dozens of raging wildfires is darkening the skies and fouling the air along much of the West Coast.

And it's expected to hover in the region at least through the weekend.

Dr. Afif El-Hasan is an American Lung Association spokesman who is also an expert in pediatric asthma and lung issues at Kaiser Permanente in California. He says the wildfire pollution can leave people more susceptible to viruses, like the flu and COVID-19.

"These particles in the air, the pollution, it weakens the lungs' defenses, because it irritates the lungs," he said. "We have increased secretions in our lungs, in our upper airways. It can make it easier to get ill from a virus or other type of infection."

Eerie orange and red skies across California, Oregon and Washington had mainly turned gray thanks to stronger winds coming in from the Pacific Ocean that helped to disperse thick smoke that acted as a filter scattering blue light and only allowed yellow, orange and red light to reach the ground.

But as the wind scattered the smoke and a layer of air blocking it from reaching the ground started dissipating Thursday, smoke particles began mixing with ground-level air worsening air quality in much of California and parts of Oregon where wildfires are raging.

Satellite photos Thursday showed a towering band of smoke hovering along the Pacific coast.

Air quality warnings also were issued throughout the Pacific Northwest, and people in communities from southern Oregon to north of Seattle reported hazy skies and choking smoke.