The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued a residential No Burn Day Alert on the effective day.

The No-Burn rule bans burning wood, pellets as well as manufactured fire logs in any indoor or outdoor wood-burning device, and bans burning charcoal except in cooking devices.

The ban is affective across the entire South Coast Air Basin, which includes large areas of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties with the exception of the High Desert and the Coachella Valley.

Information on the South Coast AQMD Check Before You Burn program is available on the website and residents can sign up to receive e-mail alerts on Air Alert.

Additional Details

Exceptions
* 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 and those without natural gas service are exempt from the requirement
* Wood burning used as a sole source of heat is allowed during temporary electrical or natural gas service outages

Impacts
* Particles in smoke can get deep into the lungs and cause health problems (including asthma attacks) and increases in emergency room visits and hospitalizations
* No-Burn Day alerts are mandatory in order to protect public health when levels of fine particle pollution or ozone are forecast to be high anywhere in the South Coast Air Basin
* The No-Burn program is in effect from November through the end of February for fine particle pollution

To protect your health, check current and forecasted air quality levels or download the mobile app.

When air quality is poor in your area:
* Limit your exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed or seeking alternate shelter.
* Avoid vigorous physical activity.
* Run your air conditioning and/or an air purifier. If temperatures allow, do not use swamp coolers or whole house fans that bring in outside air.

For more information, see the EPA Activity Guides.