'No Burn' Order Issued for Lake Elsinore, Wildomar

Much of the Southland is under a “no-burn” order Monday, 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.

“No-burn alerts are mandatory in order to protect public health due to a high concentration of fine particulate air pollution forecast for the area,” the agency said. “The no-burn prohibition also applies to manufactured fire logs, such as those made from wax or paper.”

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.

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

– City News Service contribute to this report.