'No Burn' Order Issued For Southern California

LOS ANGELES, CA -- A "no-burn" order was extended Sunday for much of the Southland into the first day of the new year. The South Coast Air Quality Management District first issued the order Saturday for most residences in the South Coast Air Basin, including most of Los Angeles and Orange counties, and the western parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The ban will extend through 11:59 p.m. Monday night.

The order excludes the Coachella Valley and the high desert, residences above 3,000 feet in elevation, low-income households and homes where wood burning is the only source of heat.

No-burn orders are issued when a high level of air pollution is anticipated.

Fine particles in wood smoke can penetrate deep into lungs, causing problems for people with asthma or other respiratory disorders, SCAQMD officials said.

Residents can register online at www.AirAlerts.org to receive emails when no-burn alerts are issued in their area.

--City News Service/Patch file photo