AQMD Orders Health-Related Wood-Burning Ban to Go into Effect Saturday

The forecast of high air pollution in the Southland on Saturday has triggered a ban on indoor and outdoor wood burning.

The residential ban affects all those in the South Coast Air Basin,which includes Altadena and Pasadena.

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.

Residents in the affected areas were reminded that burning wood in their fireplaces or any indoor or outdoor wood-burning device is prohibited, as is burning manufactured fire logs, such as those made from wax or paper.

Fine particles in wood smoke, also known as particulate matter or PM2.5, can get deep into the lungs and cause respiratory problems such as asthma.

Residents can receive no-burn day notifications by signing up for Air Alerts via email or text at https://www.aqmd.gov/sign-up.