Los Angeles residents were dealt a chilly hand this holiday season—not by the weather, but by air quality regulators who've declared a ban on wood burning this Christmas Day. According to KTLA, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) issued a residential No-Burn Day for December 25, noting a predicted spike in air pollution levels. The festive tradition of enjoying a fireplace blaze has been snuffed out, including both indoor and outdoor fires, encompassing all of Orange County and non-desert areas of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.
AQMD aims to protect public health from the fine particles known to pollute the air we breathe. "No-Burn Day alerts are mandatory in order to protect public health when levels of fine particulate air pollution in the region are forecasted to be high anywhere in the South Coast Air Basin," the District stated. Homes situated above 3,000 feet, those completely reliant on wood for heating, and ones without natural gas service have been exempted from this regulation.
As the ban rolls out, it isn't just logs that are being targeted. Manufactured fire logs, such as ones made from wax or paper, also fall under the prohibited items. This move comes as a proactive response to prevent air quality from dipping during a time when many might opt to light up their hearths. According to a statement obtained by ABC7, "Residents are reminded that burning wood in their fireplaces or any indoor or outdoor wood-burning device is prohibited."
The AQMD has also cautioned that violators could face legal repercussions, including potential criminal or civil liability with cases being referred to city, county, or state prosecutors.
Meanwhile, educational efforts continue as AQMD promotes its Air Alerts system, where residents can sign up to receive no-burn day notifications via email or text. This ecological intercession seeks to reduce exposure to wood smoke. As reported by NBC Los Angeles, it carries fine particles that can cause respiratory problems like asthma.
