Wood Burning Discouraged Today Due To Air Quality

BAY AREA, CA – Bay Area Air Quality Management District officials are discouraging the burning of wood today but have not called a Winter Spare the Air alert that would ban and penalize it. Onshore winds expected today have been delayed, contributing to increased pollution levels in the Bay Area, air district officials said.

"Even with rain in the forecast today, air quality is worse than expected and we're asking Bay Area residents to not burn wood to prevent air quality from deteriorating further," air district executive officer Jack Broadbent said in a statement.

Wood smoke is the main source of air pollution in the Bay Area during the winter months and can be especially harmful to children, the elderly and people with existing respiratory problems.

There have been 18 Winter Spare The Air alerts so far during the air district's winter season, which started Nov. 1 and runs through Feb. 28.

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