The California Air Resources Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) determines if it is a permissive burn day for agricultural (including tumbleweeds) and wildland burns. This information applies to the following designated areas:

• South Coast Air Basin* - Area 40 

• Mojave Desert Air Basin - Area 53 

• Salton Sea Air Basin - Area 55 

  
  * The South Air Basin is the four-county Southern California region which includes Orange County, and the non-desert portions of the Los Angeles County, Riverside County and San Bernardino County.

On Marginal Burn Days in the South Coast Air Basin, burning may be allowed in certain areas called Source Receptor Areas. A source receptor area is defined as follows: 

A source area is that area in which contaminants are discharged and a receptor area is that area in which the contaminants accumulate and are measured. Any of the areas can be a source area, a receptor area, or both a source and receptor area.

The source/receptor areas are delineated on the following map (PDF). Click HERE for a map that is searchable by street address.

Steps to Conduct a Burn:

1. Request a Pre-Burn Inspection from the AQMD by calling (909-396-3403). 

2. Parties interested in conducting agricultural or wildland burns must call the day prior to the scheduled burn to determine if it is a permissive burn day by either clicking HERE** or calling the Burn Day Information Line.

   ** The burn information is located toward the bottom of the webpage under the heading 'Agricultural and Wildland Fires Burn Forecast'.

   Burn Day Information Line: 909-396-3355 

   Information is posted by 2:00 p.m. for the following day. 

3. Once you have determined that it is a permissive burn day, you must obtain a Burn Authorization Number by calling the applicable Burn Line OR pressing "0" from the Burn Day Information Line (909-396-3355).

   Burn Line:
   909-396-3403

   The burn line is staffed as follows:

   Monday:	8:00 a.m.  - 4:00 p.m.
   Tuesday - Friday:	12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
   Saturday:	8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

    
   If burning on Sunday or Monday, call before 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Our standby person will return your phone call as soon as possible but no later than 5:00 p.m. the day you leave your message.

   If your burn location is not within the South Coast AQMD, you will need to contact another agency for burn authorization. 

4. Upon receipt of burn authorization from the appropriate Air District, please consult with your local fire department prior to burning.

The California Air Resources Board website contains historical records on agricultural burn days in the South Coast Air Basin.