Citizens of Fresno, Kings, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and portions of Kern counties are prohibited from using their fireplaces due to poor air quality associated with wood burning devices.

The ban lasts until midnight tonight.

Included in the no-burn ban is the burning of wood, pellets and manufactured firelogs.  The program, Check Before You Burn, which issues the ban, lasts from Nov. 1 to the last day of February to help reduce particulate matter in the air.

When bans are in effect, homes without access to a natural gas line or homes whose only source of heat comes from burning solid fuels are exempt.