Date
Thursday, September 03, 2020
The Air District is extending the Spare the Air Alert for wildfire smoke through Saturday, September 5, which bans burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors. This will be the 18th and 19th consecutive Spare the Air Alert called due to wildfire smoke. Smoke from fires in Santa Cruz and Marin Counties, as well as other large fires in northern California, are expected to create isolated pockets of unhealthy air quality in the North Bay, San Francisco, and the East Bay. The rest of the Bay Area is expected to have good to moderate air quality.
It is illegal for Bay Area residents and businesses to use their fireplaces, wood stoves, pellet stoves, outdoor fire pits or any other wood-burning devices during a Spare the Air Alert for particulate pollution.
Spare the Air Alerts are issued when ozone or particulate matter pollution is forecast to reach unhealthy levels. If the smell of smoke is present or visible, it is important that Bay Area residents protect their health by avoiding exposure. If possible, stay inside with windows and doors closed until smoke levels subside. If temperatures are too hot indoors, visit an air-cooling center or other building that provides filtered air. It is also recommended that Bay Area residents set air conditioning units and car vent systems to re-circulate to prevent outside air from moving inside.
Smoke can irritate the eyes and airways, causing coughing, a dry scratchy throat and irritated sinuses. Elevated particulate matter in the air can trigger wheezing in those who suffer from asthma, emphysema or COPD. Elderly persons, children and individuals with respiratory illnesses are particularly susceptible to elevated air pollution levels and should take extra precautions to avoid exposure.
To find out when a Spare the Air Alert is in effect, residents can sign up for text alerts by texting the word “START” to 817-57, register for email AirAlerts at www.sparetheair.org, call 1(800) HELP-AIR, download the Spare the Air App or connect with Spare the Air on Facebook or Twitter.
Check the Air District's Current Air Quality page for real-time air quality readings.
View press release.
View Wildfire Safety web page.
Last Updated: 9/3/2020