* WHAT...The South Coast AQMD has issued a mandatory wood-burning ban
for residents in the South Coast Air Basin. The No-Burn rule bans
burning wood, pellets, and manufactured fire logs in any indoor or
outdoor wood-burning device.
* WHERE...The South Coast Air Basin, which includes Orange County and
non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino
counties. No-Burn Day alerts do not apply to areas above 3,000 feet
in elevation, the Coachella Valley, or the High Desert. Homes that
rely on wood as a sole source of heat, low-income households and
those without natural gas service also are exempt from the
requirement.
* WHEN...Until midnight tonight.
* IMPACTS...Particles in smoke can get deep into the lungs and cause
health problems (including asthma attacks), increases in emergency
room visits, and hospitalizations. No-Burn Days are needed to
protect public health when fine particle pollution levels are
expected to be high anywhere in the South Coast Air Basin. No-Burn
Days are based on fine particle pollution levels that are
forecasted for an entire 24-hour period, which may not be reflected
in real-time air quality maps. 16:24 To 09:00