Monday 'Spare the Air Alert' Issued for Piedmont, East Bay

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued a Spare the Air Alert for today.

Burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors, is banned for 24 hours. Today’s Spare the Air Alert marks the sixth of the winter season. District officials said the persistent, stagnant weather during the past few days has allowed wood smoke to build up in the area.

Related: Bundle Up! Cold Weather A-Comin’

First-time violators will be given the option of taking a wood smoke awareness class online or by mail in lieu of paying a $100 ticket. Second-time violations will result in a $500 ticket, and subsequent ticket amounts will be higher. The public is advised to check before burning during the Winter Spare the Air season, which runs from Nov. 1 through Feb. 28.

By Bay City News

Photo via Morguefile