Smoke from multiple wildfires hung over much of Southern California Thursday, blanketing the region with hazy brown vistas and pungent, ashy air and prompting health warnings from air quality officials. Because of morning Santa Ana wind patterns, some of the highest levels of fine-particle pollution, or wildfire soot, hovered over a coastal area that normally has relatively clean air — the communities that stretch from Santa Monica to Long Beach. That could change later in the day. The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory spanning much of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Officials predicted smoke and ash to produce pollution levels that are “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” including children, the elderly and people with preexisting health problems, The LA Times reported.🔥😱

Extremely critical fire weather will continue Thursday in Los Angeles and Ventura counties and particularly in the mountains of Southern California, the National Weather Service said. Red-flag warnings, which expired late Wednesday in Northern California, will remain in effect through Thursday for much of the southern part of the state as strong Santa Ana winds continue. Some population centers under extreme fire danger Thursday include Oxnard, Santa Clarita, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley and Inglewood, according to the National Weather Service. Among places listed at critical risk are Los Angeles, Santa Ana, Anaheim, Riverside and Chula Vista. Weather conditions will remain clear and windy with below-normal temperatures through the end of the week. 🔥😱

Authorities in Harris County, Texas, on Thursday gave chase to three suspects in a car that stretched 120 miles and hit speeds of up to 110 mph, a report said. The Houston Chronicle reported that the chase started at about 8 p.m. during a routine traffic stop. The report said it was unclear what led to the initial stop. But police said the car took off and the chase lasted about an hour. The suspects were reportedly seen tossing items out from the car during the pursuit. KHOU reported that three suspects were arrested after the car crashed. The channel reported that the chase resulted in at least eight crashes. 👮🏻‍♂️ #pursuit