Winter 'Spare The Air' Season Ends In Bay Area

BAY AREA, CA – The Bay Area Air Quality Management District's Winter "Spare the Air" season ended Wednesday, with 19 alerts called from November through February. Winter Spare the Air alerts prohibit wood burning throughout the Bay Area.

The 2017-18 Winter Spare the Air season included long stretches of alerts – up to eight days in a row in December – due to unusually stagnant weather. All 19 alerts were called in December and January.

"Despite the recent rain, dry, still winter weather has become the norm in the Bay Area which significantly increases wood smoke pollution health impacts throughout the region," said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Air District, the regional agency responsible for protecting air quality in the nine-county Bay Area. "Cleaner heating solutions are needed to protect the health of our families and neighbors inside and outside our homes."

This season, the Air District received a total of 2,177 complaints, including 367 in Alameda County, 363 in Contra Costa, 362 in Santa Clara, 306 in Marin, 306 in Sonoma, 211 in San Mateo, 88 in San Francisco and 86 in Napa, 60 in Solano. No county details were provided for 28 complaints.

A total of 128 violations were issued to residents for violating the no-wood burning rule.

According to the Air District, first-time violators are allowed to take a course to learn more about the health impacts of wood smoke and the winter weather conditions that lead to unhealthy air quality. Violators who choose not to take the course receive a $100 ticket. Second-time violations are subject to a $500 ticket, with the amount increasing for subsequent violations.

Photo by Renee Schiavone/Patch