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A wood burning ban will be in effect Thursday in the Bay Area after regional air quality officials issued a Spare the Air Alert because of a forecast of elevated pollution levels.
The Bay Area Air District issued the alert, which bans the burning of wood, manufactured fire logs, or any other solid fuel both indoors and outdoors. Light winds and cold overnight temperatures are expected to trap smoke closer to ground level, and the air district said offshore winds may also transport pollution from the Central Valley into the Bay Area.
There are exemptions, including for homes without permanently installed heating where wood stoves or fireplaces are the only source of heat.
People found to have violated the wood burning ban will be encouraged to take a wood smoke awareness course if it is their first offense. Violators who don’t take the course will receive a $100 ticket, and subsequent violations will lead to higher fines, according to the air district.
Wood smoke exposure has been linked to respiratory illnesses and an increased risk of heart attacks and some types of cancer, and is particularly harmful for children, older adults, and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions, air district officials said.
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