The Air District is issuing a Spare the Air Alert for today, Sunday, December 8, which bans burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors. Regional wood burning and easterly winds transporting air pollution into the Bay Area from the Central Valley have contributed to high overnight concentrations of fine particle pollution and unhealthy air quality. Although light northerly winds will bring some improvement later in the afternoon and evening, parts of the Bay Area will still experience unhealthy air quality throughout the day. Breezier northeasterly winds will bring more substantial improvement in air quality for Monday.  

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is issuing the winter season’s first Spare the Air Alerts for Sunday, December 1, and Monday, December 2, which ban burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is asking residents to not burn wood over the Thanksgiving holiday to help reduce air pollution and protect public health. As we enter the holiday season, gathering around a fireplace may be a tradition for many, but there are serious health impacts associated with wood burning.

The Air District will host an in-person conversation with Air District Board Chair Davina Hurt on Saturday, December 7, 2024, from 12 noon – 1 PM at the Greenhouse Community Room in the San Lorenzo Public Library. The conversation will focus on community questions and concerns regarding air quality issues and climate change.