Much of SoCal Under 24-Hour No-Burn Order

Because of predicted high air pollution levels, all indoor and outdoor residential wood burning will be prohibited Saturday in the South Coast Air Basin, which includes Riverside County and non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties.

Under the ban issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District for the 24-hour period that began at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, burning wood in fireplaces or any indoor or outdoor wood-burning device is prohibited.

The no-burn rule prohibits burning wood as well as manufactured fire logs, such as those made from wax or paper.

The air pollution control agency for Orange County and major portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties issues mandatory no-burn alerts in order to protect public health when levels of fine particulate air pollution in the region are forecast to be high.

"Smoke from wood burning can cause health problems," according to an AQMD statement. "Particles in wood smoke ... can get deep into the lungs and cause respiratory problems -- including asthma attacks -- and increases in emergency room visits and hospitalizations."

Residents can help reduce the harmful health effects of wood smoke by signing up to receive e-mail alerts at www.AirAlerts.org to learn when a mandatory no-burn alert is issued.

AQMD's no-burn alerts do not apply to mountain communities above 3,000 feet in elevation, the Coachella Valley, or the High Desert. Homes that rely on wood as a sole source of heat -- as well as low- income households and those without natural gas service -- also are exempt from the requirement. Natural gas and other non-wood burning fireplaces are not restricted.