Wood-burning ban issued across Southern California due to high air pollution levels

A mandatory No-Burn Day alert has been issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, prohibiting all residential wood burning in the South Coast Air Basin due to high levels of air pollution.

The alert, which will be in effect from midnight to 11:59 p.m. Friday, applies to residents in Orange County and the non-desert areas of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Exemptions apply to mountain communities above 3,000 feet, the Coachella Valley, and the High Desert, as well as homes that rely on wood as their sole heat source or are in low-income households without natural gas service.

Air quality levels have been adversely affected by multiple wildfires in the area, including the Mountain Fire burning in Ventura County. Heavy winds also kicked up ash and dust into the air, leading to a Windblown Dust and Ash advisory being issued Wednesday.

The No-Burn rule bans the burning of wood, including manufactured fire logs made from wax or paper, in fireplaces and any indoor or outdoor wood-burning devices. The purpose of the ban is to protect public health when high levels of fine particulate air pollution are forecast.

“Smoke from wood burning can cause health problems. Particles in wood smoke — also known as fine particulate matter or PM2.5 — can get deep into the lungs and cause respiratory problems, including asthma attacks,” South Coast AQMD said in its statement.

This is the first No-Burn alert for the 2024-2025 season.

Residents can sign up for e-mail alerts when a No-Burn Day is declared. For more information on No-Burn Days and to access real-time air quality updates, click here.