The forecast low temperature of 51 degrees Friday night in Los Angeles may inspire some to light a cozy fall fire. But residents across much of Southern California should refrain from burning wood Friday — the destructive Mountain Fire has sent air pollutants into a frenzy, air quality officials said.
Orange County and non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties must stop burning wood, including logs made from wax or paper, anywhere indoors or outdoors from midnight to 11:59 p.m. Friday, depending on South Coast air quality. District management said Thursday. This is the first scheduled no-burn day of the 2024-25 season.
(South Coast Air Quality Management District)
Mountain communities above 3,000 feet elevation, the Coachella Valley and the high desert are exempt from the ban, along with homes that rely on wood as their sole heating source, low-income households and those who do not have natural gas service.
Inhaling fine particles, such as those from burning wood, can cause respiratory problems, air quality officials said, including asthma attacks. Officials suggest staying indoors, avoiding physical activity and running the air conditioning or air purifier in your home.
A smoke advisory was also issued for parts of Los Angeles County through Saturday afternoon due to the Mountain Fire, which has burned more than 20,000 acres in Ventura County and destroyed more than around a hundred houses Thursday evening.
