* WHAT. The South Coast AQMD has issued an air quality alert due to increased fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke and a mandatory wood-burning ban for residents in the South Coast Air Basin. The No-Burn rule bans burning wood, pellets, and manufactured fire logs in any indoor or outdoor wood-burning device. * WHERE. Smoke impacts are expected in the San Gabriel Mountains, Santa Clarity Valley, San Fernando Valley, Santa Monica Mountains and Malibu Coast. Levels of particle pollution can vary by time and location depending on fire activity and local weather conditions. The wood-burning ban is in effect in the South Coast Air Basin, which includes non-desert portions of Los Angeles county. No-Burn Day alerts do not apply to areas above 3,000 feet in elevation. Homes that rely on wood as a sole source of heat, low-income households and those without natural gas service also are exempt from the requirement. * WHEN. Smoke advisory is in effect from 11 AM Friday to 3 PM Saturday and wood-burning ban is in effect on Friday. * IMPACTS. Particles in wildfire smoke can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, asthma attacks, and difficulty breathing. Everyone can be affected, but people with lung or heart disease, older adults, people who are pregnant, children, and those who spend a lot of time outdoors are at greater risk. No-Burn Days are based on fine particle pollution levels that are forecasted for an entire 24-hour period, which may not be reflected in real-time air quality maps.
