Many Southern Californians hoping to enjoy a warm fire on Christmas Day will be disappointed as the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) has declared a residential No-Burn Day for December 25. The decision is a response to a predicted spike in air pollution levels.
The wood burning ban covers all of Orange County, as well as non-desert areas of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties, encompassing both indoor and outdoor fires. Exceptions to the ban include mountain communities above 3,000 feet and homes relying solely on wood for heating or those without natural gas service.
While air quality on Sunday was listed as “good” to “moderate” across AQMD’s coverage area, the No-Burn Day alert is a proactive measure to safeguard public health. The ban considers fine particulate air pollution forecasted for a 24-hour period, even if real-time air quality maps do not reflect the same.
The ban extends to manufactured fire logs, such as those made from wax or paper. Violations of air pollution rules may result in criminal or civil liability, with cases referred to city, county, or state prosecutors.
As an alternative to burning wood, KTLA 5 is offering viewers a virtual Yule Log experience from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve and from 4 a.m. until noon on Christmas Day. Festive holiday music will be streamed from KOST 103.5 FM.