The Bay Area Air Quality Management District on Saturday issued the first Spare the Air Alerts for Sunday and Monday of the winter season.
The forecast light winds and cold overnight temperatures are expected to contribute to unhealthy air quality as high pressure over the region acts like a lid and traps smoke at ground level, BAAQMD officials said. The warning noted that there is also a chance that offshore winds will transport air pollution from the Central Valley to the Bay Area.
KPIX First warning again: Current conditions, warnings, maps for your region
The alarm prohibits the burning of wood, manufactured fire logs or other solid fuels, either indoors or outdoors.
It is illegal for Bay Area residents and businesses to use their fireplaces, wood stoves, pellet stoves, outdoor fire pits or other wood-burning appliances during a Spare the Air Alert, although exceptions are available for homes without permanently installed heating, where wood stoves or fireplaces are the only source of heat.
Anyone whose sole heat source is a wood-burning appliance must use an EPA-certified or pellet-powered appliance registered with the Air District to qualify for an exemption. A fireplace no longer qualifies for an exemption.
People can find out when a Spare the Air alert is in effect by visiting sparetheair.org, calling (800) HELP-AIR, downloading the Spare the Air app on their smartphone or Spare the Air on social media to find.
