Air District asks public to not burn wood through the New Year’s holiday

Without additional wood burning activity, air quality is expected to be moderate throughout the Bay Area. However, wood burning through the New Year’s holiday can significantly impact localized areas and neighborhoods. Wood burning can also significantly impact indoor air quality. A Spare the Air Alert is NOT in effect and wood burning is not illegal. However, wood burning is strongly discouraged.

The Air District is also asking residents to refrain from setting off personal fireworks displays through the holiday weekend. Fireworks and wood smoke can cause an unhealthy spike in air pollution and create excess smoke and ash in neighborhoods.

Like cigarette or wildfire smoke, wood smoke contains carcinogenic substances such as particulate matter, benzene and formaldehyde, which are harmful when inhaled. Wood smoke is the major source of air pollution in the Bay Area in the wintertime and is especially harmful to children, the elderly and people with respiratory conditions.

Bay Area residents can find out if a Spare the Air Alert is in effect by:

• Signing up for text alerts. To sign up, text the word “START” to the number 817-57
• Calling 1-877-4NO-BURN
• Visiting www.sparetheair.org or www.baaqmd.gov
• Signing up for automatic e-mail AirAlerts at www.sparetheair.org/alerts
• Signing up for automatic phone alerts at www.sparetheair.org/alerts
• Downloading the Spare the Air iPhone or Android app

View press release(185 Kb PDF, 2 pgs, posted 28/12/2023).