
Every year, in the months from November through February, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) institutes mandatory wood-burning restrictions in the LA basin when particulate matter in the air reaches certain levels. On these days, the SCAQMD issues “no burn alerts” for certain areas, which means local residents are not allowed to burn wood or manufactured logs in residential fireplaces and stoves (either outdoors or indoors) for at least 24 hours.
This year, because of all the smoke already in the air from the current brush fires, we can expect to see a lot of No Burn Days…and sure enough, although November is only a few days old, the SCAQMD has called one today. So even though our evenings and early mornings have been chilly for the last few days, please refrain from lighting that cozy wood fire in your fireplace or backyard firepit. (Note that exceptions are granted for homes where wood burning is the sole source of heat…and that gas fireplaces may also still be used.)
For more information and/or to sign up for No Burn alerts, see http://www.aqmd.gov/cbyb.