Every year, officials in the Bay Area hold days to ban wood burning called "Spare the Air" days. Spare the Air season began this month and will last until the end of February 2015. So far this season, there have been three Spare the Air days so far. Bay Area officials scheduled the third Spare the Air day on Wednesday, November 26.
The Bay Area holds these periodic bans on wood burning as part of an ongoing effort to reduce air pollution. On days when the quality of air is poor, officials ask residents to refrain from burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors for 24 hours. Failure to comply can result in a $100 fine for a first offense, and up to $500 for multiple-time offenders.
On Spare the Air days, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) asks residents to further conserve fuel by using an transportation option that uses less fuel, like taking public transportation or using a carpool. There is a transportation hotline called 511 in San Francisco that helps match drivers in the San Francisco Bay Area with similar commutes for optimal carpooling.
Gases from burning wood and other fuels can result in ozone gases when exposed to sunlight. Ozone gases can worsen lung conditions such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis.
Aaron Richardson, a spokesperson for the BAAQMD, said that air pollution caused by particulate matter from burning solid fuel is associated with 2,800 deaths every year in the Bay Area. The BAAQMD estimates the cost to humans of particulate matter pollution is upwards of billions of dollars every year.
"Persistent stagnant weather continues to trap wood smoke pollution in the region. Wood smoke ... contains many of the same toxins as cigarettes," said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the BAAQMD.
Citizens of the Bay Area can sign up for Spare the Air alerts at the BAAQMD's website.
