The South Coast Air Quality Management District Sunday extended a No-Burn Alert through 11:59 p.m. Monday, prohibiting wood burning in fireplaces and in all indoor or outdoor devices across four Southern California counties.
The updated alert includes the South Coast Air Basin, covering large areas of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, except the High Desert and Coachella Valley.
The agency issues the alerts when air quality is forecast to be poor. The current alert was originally issued for Dec. 13, and has been extended for eight consecutive days.
“South Coast AQMD reminds residents in these areas that burning wood in their fireplaces or any indoor or outdoor wood-burning device is prohibited at any time on No-Burn Days,” the agency said.
Smoke from wood burning can cause health problems, according to the AQMD. Fine particulate matter called PM2.5 can get deep into the lungs to cause asthma attacks and other respiratory problems that can increase emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
Homes that rely on wood as a sole source of heat, low-income households and those without natural gas service are exempt from the requirement. Gas and other non-wood burning fireplaces are also not restricted, according to the AQMD.
More information is available at aqmd.gov.