The first Spare the Air Alerts for Sunday and Monday of the winter season were released by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District on Saturday.
High pressure above the area acts as a lid, trapping smoke at ground level, thus the projected weak winds and cold evening temperatures are likely to contribute to hazardous air quality, according to BAAQMD experts. Additionally, the alert mentioned the possibility that air pollution from the Central Valley could be carried into the Bay Area by offshore winds.
KPIX First Alert Weather: Local conditions, warnings, and maps
Burning wood, prefabricated fire logs, or any other solid fuel indoors or outdoors is prohibited under the alert.
Although there are exceptions for homes without permanently installed heating where wood stoves or fireplaces are the only source of heat, it is illegal for Bay Area businesses and residents to use outdoor fire pits, wood stoves, pellet stoves, fireplaces, or any other wood-burning devices during a Spare the Air Alert.
To be eligible for an exemption, a person whose only source of heat is a wood-burning device must utilize an EPA-certified or pellet-fueled unit that is registered with the Air District. The exemption no longer applies to an open-hearth fireplace.
People can visit Spare the Air.org, call (800) HELP-AIR, download the Spare the Air app on their smartphone, or search for Spare the Air on social media to find out when a warning is in force.
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