'Spare The Air' Burn Ban Extended In East Bay

EAST BAY, CA – As unhealthy air quality persists throughout the East Bay, due to the lingering smoke haze from Butte County's Camp Fire, the Bay Area Air Quality Management extended its "Spare the Air" ban through Tuesday, and the East Bay Regional Park District advised visitors that weekend events may be canceled.

Restrictions on wood burning in the Bay Area was extended through Tuesday for Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, Santa Clara, southern Sonoma and southwestern Solano counties, according to air district officials.

Air quality in the Bay Area is extremely poor, at present, due to smoke blowing south from the Camp Fire, a record-breaking wildfire that ignited in Butte County about a week ago. Officials hope that the wood-burning ban extension will help air quality.

Smoke from wood fires is linked to asthma, bronchitis and lung disease, and children and the elderly are more at risk to harm from the smoke. The ban includes wood or other fuels burning in fireplaces, wood stoves and inserts, pellet stoves, outdoor fire pits and other wood-burning
devices.

The East Bay Regional Park District, meanwhile, issued an announcement today advising visitors to minimize or refrain from active outdoor recreation due to the unhealthy air with a warning that scheduled programs by interpretive or recreation instructors may be canceled.

Park visitors are advised to check www.ebparks.org for details.

Anyone with reservations at East Bay Regional Parks can contact the reservations office, Monday-Friday, 8:30-4 p.m. at 1-888-EBPARKS (888-327-2757), option 2 or the park directly for those wishing to cancel or change reservations for picnics, camping, programs or indoor facility reservation/registration. Currently, no fires of any kind are allowed in any East Bay regional park.

Should air conditions worsen, park or facility restrictions may occur, and service levels may be reduced for the safety of the public and park staff. All restrictions will be posted by 4 p.m. for the following day on the website, ebparks.org.

Up-to-date information from the Bay Area's air district on air quality and guidance to limit exposure is available at www.baaqmd.gov.

ALSO SEE:

• 'Ugly Sweater' Holiday Stroll Canceled In Pleasanton

• Rain In Forecast For SF Bay Area Could Alleviate Smoky Air

• Las Positas Classes Canceled, Offices Closed Through Weekend

--Bay City News contributed to this report/Image via Deborah Green