As Los Angeles construction worker Ivan De La Torre surveyed a landscape of smoking wreckage in fire-ravaged Altadena, a question nagged at him: how would insurance companies cover the cost of rebuilding an entire neighborhood?

Gina Zapanta and husband Michael Alder sprang into action to offer emergency housing and supplies to wildfire victims.

As of Friday afternoon, six wildfires were burning across Los Angeles County, including a fresh one that had ignited just hours earlier.

Southern California ‒ with sprawling cities, clogged freeways and heavy industry ‒ is already notorious for some of the worst air quality in the nation. This week's wildfires are putting millions of people at risk for immediate health problems and longer-term issues.

As wildfires blaze across California, here is how inhaling smoke could affect your health, from itchy eyes to dementia risk.