Lake Elsinore Under a 'No Burn' Alert on Wednesday

LAKE ELSINORE, CA- Much of the Southland will be under a “no-burn” order Wednesday, meaning indoor fireplace use and outdoor wood burning will be prohibited due to pollution concerns.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued the order for all residences in the South Coast Air Basin, including the greater Los Angeles area, Orange County and the Inland Empire.

“Residents in your area are prohibited from burning wood or manufactured fire logs in indoor and outdoor residential wood burning fireplaces and stoves due to elevated fine particulate levels forecast by the SCAQMD,” the agency said in an emailed alert on Tuesday. “When a residential no-burn alert is issued for your area, please refrain from burning wood throughout the entire day.”

The order excludes the Coachella Valley, residences above 3,000 feet in elevation, and homes where there is no other source of heat.

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

– City News Service contributed to this report. Image via Shutterstock.