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Bay Area residents are being asked to start the new year by sparing the air, as the Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued a Spare the Air alert for New Year’s Day.
A high-pressure system is still in place over the Bay Area and is forecast to continue to trap smoke near the ground, causing unhealthy air quality on Jan. 1, according to the Air District.
Wood burning is banned in the Bay Area on Spare the Air days. Residents are bit permitted to burn wood, manufactured fire logs or other solid fuel indoors or outdoors on Monday, New Year’s Day, air district officials said.
The alert is the 17th of the winter season. “This past year was a difficult one for air quality in the Bay Area, as smoke impacts from wildfires led to unprecedented high levels of air pollution in some parts of the region,” said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Bay Area Air District.
People can find out when a Spare the Air alert is in effect by visiting sparetheair.org or baaqmd.gov, calling 877-4NO-BURN (466-2876), signing up for text alerts by texting “START” to 817-57, signing up for phone alerts at (800) 430-1515, downloading the Spare the Air smartphone app for iPhone or Android or connecting with Spare the Air on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
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I’m fascinated by the coincidental way these “Spare The Air” days fall in cold weather. Is it a scam to support PG&E?
Spare The Air warnings are never issued on cold rainy days. Most Spare The Air days are actually during the summer. Winter Spare The Air days are usually on warmer winter days when high pressure is holding the heat and air pollution closer to the ground. The weather forecast for today is a high of 65F, which is very warm for the winter.
And yes, the pollution is terrible. It is giving my kids headaches. Please do not pollute, at least until the rain starts tomorrow.