Both cause circular growths or lumps on the skin and can look similar. A boil looks like a large pimple—a swollen ring of red with one or more white or yellow pus-filled sores (pustules).

Some Los Angeles areas impacted by the recent wildfires have been living under a boil water advisory for days now.

Read on for all the things you need to know about staying safe during a boil water notice. For more, see what the Los Angeles wildfires look like from space and find out how you can help the victims.