Mandatory No-Burn Order Issued For Monrovia

LOS ANGELES, CA —Despite the chilly winter mornings, residents across Los Angeles County ae prohibited from using their wood-burning fireplaces and pits Thursday.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued the no-burn order for much of Southern California because the weather conditions conducive to concentrated pollution.

For the second day in a row, a mandatory "no-burn" alert will be in effect until 11:59 p.m. for everyone living in the South Coast Air Basin, including Orange County and non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The order does not apply to mountain communities above 3,000 feet or homes and low-income households that rely on wood as a sole source of heat, according to the AQMD.

Gas burning fireplaces and firepits are permitted. It's the kind that burn wood or manufactured logs that contribute to the concentrated air pollution.

"No-burn alerts are mandatory in order to protect public health when levels of fine particulate air pollution in the region are forecast to be high," according to the AQMD. "Smoke from wood burning can cause health problems."

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.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report. Photo: Shutterstock