Winter 'Spare The Air' Season Starts Thursday In Bay Area

BAY AREA, CA – The Bay Area Air Quality Management District's Winter Spare the Air season starts Thursday, Nov. 1.

During the season, air district officials issue Winter Spare the Air alerts that make it illegal to burn wood, manufactured fire logs or other solid fuel indoors and outdoors in the Bay Area. Alerts are issued when air quality is unhealthy due to pollution, which is mainly from wood smoke, according to the air district.

The Winter Spare the Air season runs from Nov. 1, 2018, through Feb. 28, 2019.

"Everyone in the Bay Area has felt the effects of smoke from wildfires this year which helps us recognize the impact of burning wood on our neighborhood in the winter," Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the air district, said in a statement. "Wood smoke from Bay Area fireplaces and wood stoves continues to be the largest source of wintertime air pollution in the region and can cause unhealthy air for residents in the surrounding community as well as inside the home."

Natural gas, propane and electric fireplaces can be used during a Winter Spare the Air alert, but the use of wood-burning devices such as fireplaces, pellet and wood stoves, and outdoor fire pits are prohibited.

The fine particulate pollution in wood smoke is especially harmful for children, the elderly and people with respiratory conditions, air district officials said. Wood smoke has been linked to respiratory illnesses and increased risk of heart attacks. Wood smoke also contains carcinogenic substances.

Residents who violate the rule for the first time have the option to take a class instead of paying a $100 fine. Residents who violate the rule a second time must pay a $500 fine, with the fine increasing for subsequent violations.

To find out whether a Spare the Air alert has been issued, residents can call 877-4NO-BURN or visit www.sparetheair.org or www.baaqmd.gov. Residents can also sign up for text alerts by texting the word "START" to the number 817-57, automatic phone alerts by calling 1-800-430-1515, or automatic e-mail alerts by visiting www.sparetheair.org.

Photo by Renee Schiavone/Patch