Community Corner

Another Spare the Air Alert, Possible Wood Burning Ban

More alerts may be issued later in week if cold, still weather persists, making virtual yule logs the thing to do this weekend.

Bah, humbug! Polluted air is triggering yet another Spare The Air alert for Wednesday, and may mean the only yule logs allowed will be the televised or virtual kind.

Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) officials said cold, still weather conditions this week may mean fire burning will be prohibited just when folks were planning on enjoying cozy, holiday fires.

Weather conditions forecast for Wednesday are expected to create unhealthy air quality, prompting the all-day ban on burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors.

Find out what's happening in Gilroywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

That weather is expected to continue throughout the weekend.

"The current weather pattern that is trapping air pollution close to the ground will stay in place and keep pollution levels high likely into the holiday weekend," air district executive officer Jack Broadbent said.

Find out what's happening in Gilroywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The ban will be in effect for Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, southern Sonoma and southwestern Solano counties, district officials said.

During winter months, wood smoke is the leading cause of wintertime air pollution in the Bay Area, according to district officials. Wood smoke containsharmful pollutants, such as soot and carbon monoxide, and toxins such as dioxin, which has been linked to increased cancer rates in adults.

About one-third of the harmful soot in the winter air can be attributed to wood smoke from the 1.4 million fireplaces and wood stoves in the Bay Area, according to the district.

More information about the ban and on whether it is in effect can be found at www.sparetheair.org or by calling 877-4NO-BURN (466-2876).

Those wishing to receive automatic phone calls when a Winter Spare the Air alert is issued can register for the alerts by calling 800-430-1515.

—Bay City News


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