As Livermore Valley Air Quality Worsens, 'Spare The Air' Extended

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CA — A Spare the Air Alert for wildfire smoke is extended through Sunday, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District announced Wednesday.

Wildfire smoke from numerous fires throughout the Bay Area and beyond is causing elevated levels of particulate pollution.

The Peninsula, Santa Clara Valley and Livermore Valley are expected to be among the Bay Area's most impacted areas.

Updated information on air quality in your area can be seen by visiting AIRNow.

All indications are that the poor air quality will linger, officials said.

When will air quality improve? Will remains of Genevieve affect the Bay Area/fires?
— PATRIC (@065Patrick) August 19, 2020

"The air quality will be very poor for the foreseeable future given rapid spread of fires and stagnant air mass," the Bay Area's National Weather Service bureau tweeted Wednesday morning.

The alert bans burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors.

During a Spare the Air Alert it is illegal for residents and businesses to use their fireplaces, wood stoves, pellet stoves, outdoor fire pits or any other wood-burning devices for particulate pollution.

"Unfortunately, wildfires continue to burn throughout the Bay Area and we expect several days of smoky conditions, said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Air District.

"As respiratory health is top of mind for all of us during the pandemic, it's crucial that residents take steps to avoid exposure to unhealthy air."

To find out when a Spare the Air Alert is in effect, residents can sign up for text alerts by texting the word "START" to 817-57, register for email AirAlerts at www.sparetheair.org, call 1(800) HELP-AIR, download the Spare the Air App or connect with Spare the Air on Facebook or Twitter.

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