Burning wood or manufactured fire logs in fireplaces is not allowed beginning midnight tonight (Friday) through Saturday midnight, (January 11) due to elevated fine particulate levels in the air. Â It’s officially a Bad Air Day tomorrow.
The Southern California Air Quality Management District’S (SCQMD) “Check Before You Burn” program, is in effect each winter from Nov. 1 to the end of February, and designed to protect public health by minimizing harmful wood smoke from residential wood burning.  No-burn alerts are called when air quality is forecast to be elevated due to fine particulate levels (PM2.5). Wood smoke contains hundreds of contaminants including PM2.5, a pollutant linked to increased emergency room visits and hospitalizations, as well as increased risk of heart attacks and early deaths.
If you suspect it’s a high-pollution day, enter your ZIP code at www.aqmd.gov to see if you live in an affected area. You can also sign up for daily reports on air quality and Check Before You Burn alerts at www.airalerts.org or call SCAQMD’s 24-hour Check Before You Burn toll-free line at (866) 966-3293.
Thanks to Buzz reader Dr. George Stoneman for suggesting the Buzz share no-burn days with our community.
photo credit: nanimoshiranai via photopin cc
 through Saturday midnight, (January 11) due to elevated fine particulate levels in the air. It's officially a Bad Air Day.){kind=link}