No Burn Alert Issued For Temecula: High Pollution Warning

TEMECULA, CA — A No Burn Day Alert was implemented for Saturday for Temecula and Riverside County, the South Coast Air Quality Management District said.

The alert is for all living in the South Coast Air Basin, including Orange County and non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

"South Coast AQMD reminds residents in these areas that burning wood in their fireplaces or any indoor or outdoor wood-burning device is prohibited during the mandatory wood-burning ban," the district said.

The no burn rule prohibits burning wood as well as manufactured fire logs, such as those made from wax or paper.

"Do your part to help keep our air clean by not burning wood during the mandatory wood burning ban," they said.

No burn day alerts are mandatory in order to protect public health when levels of fine particulate air pollution in the region are forecast to be high.

"Smoke from wood burning can cause health problems," they said. "Particles in wood smoke – also known as fine particulate matter or PM2.5 – can get deep into the lungs and cause respiratory problems (including asthma attacks), increases in emergency room visits and hospitalizations."

Residents can help reduce the harmful health effects of wood smoke by signing up to receive e-mail alerts at www.AirAlerts.org to learn when a mandatory no burn day alert is issued.