Pollution Triggers No-Burn Order For Altadena

LOS ANGELES, CA — Bonfires and wood-burning fires are prohibited across the Los Angeles region Monday thanks to heavy levels of pollution in the area. The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a No Burn Alert to last all day Monday.

Authorities have detected high levels of fine particulate air pollution in the region, prompting the prohibition on wood-burning fires across much of Southern California. The order affects everyone living in the South Coast Air Basin, including Orange County and non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, the AQMD said. Mountain communities above 3,000 feet, the Coachella Valley or the High Desert or homes and low-income households that rely on wood as a sole source of heat are exempt from the order.

It does not affect gas and other non-wood burning fireplaces. However, it does affect wood and manufactured fire logs in fireplaces or any indoor or outdoor wood-burning device.

"No-burn alerts are mandatory in order to protect public health when levels of fine particulate air pollution in the region are forecast to be high," the AQMD said in a written statement. "Smoke from wood burning can cause health problems."

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report. Photo: Shutterstock