What's New
Several millions of people in California have been warned by the National Weather Service (NWS) to limit outdoor activity and to refrain from burning wood after air quality alerts were issued in Southwestern parts of the state.
The NWS said in its alert that a mandatory wood-burning ban previously implemented by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) has been extended for residents in the South Coast Air Basin (SCAB), which includes Orange County as well as parts of Los Angeles County, San Bernadino County, and Riverside County.
According to the South Coast AQMD, the SCAB encompasses a region inhabited by some 17 million people.
Why It Matters
According to the NWS, 'No-Burn Days' are necessary to safeguard public health when fine particle pollution levels are anticipated to be elevated anywhere in the South Coast Air Basin.
What To Know
The no-burn rule prohibits the use of wood, pellets, and manufactured fire logs in any indoor or outdoor wood-burning appliance.
The NWS warned that particles in smoke can reach deep into one's lungs, causing health problems such as asthma attacks. It could also result in an increase in emergency room visits and even hospitalizations.
Those in affected areas were advised to limit prolonged or intense outdoor activities when air quality is poor in their area and stay indoors with windows and doors closed.
The NWS also advised to use an air conditioner or air purifier to maintain indoor comfort, and to avoid using devices like swamp coolers or whole-house fans that draw in outside air if alternative cooling methods are available.
It added that No-Burn Days are determined by forecasted fine particle pollution levels for a full 24-hour period, which may not align with real-time air quality maps.
The service said that No-Burn Day alerts do not apply to areas about 3,000 feet, the Coachella Velley, or the High Desert.
It also said homes that rely on wood as a sole source of heat, "low-income households" and those without natural gas service are also exempt from the restrictions.
What People Are Saying
South Coast AQMD said on its official website: "Do your part to help keep our air clean by not burning wood during the mandatory wood burning ban."
It warned that older adults, young children, pregnant women, and people with heart diseases or lung diseases can be particularly sensitive to the health risks associated with particulate matter pollution caused by wood smoke.
What Happens Next
The NWS said the air quality alert was in effect for Sunday and Monday.
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