Politics & Government
Spare the Air, Again
It's getting so bad that even healthy people are coughing. Pity those with asthma.
Yet again, Bay Area residents are being asked to leave their fireplaces and wood stoves unlit during a sixth consecutive "Winter Spare the Air" day on Friday.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued Friday's Winter Spare the Air alert -- the 10th this season -- because of an ongoing cold, stagnant weather pattern blanketing the region.
On Friday, as during other days this week, both indoor and outdoor wood burning is banned, except at homes where wood burning is the sole heat source, according to the air district.
District officials said Bay Area residents have been good about complying with the wood-burning ban, which is designed to keep air quality at healthy levels.
The still, chilly weather keeps smoke from wood-burning sources close to the ground, polluting the air to an unhealthy degree, district officials say.
"The current weather trend is preventing the built-up air pollution from clearing out in the Bay Area," said Jack Broadbent, the air district's executive officer.
Although district officials say a new weather system forecast to move through the region could end the wood-burning ban this weekend, Bay Area residents are advised to check the daily burn status before lighting any wood fires.
The burn status can be found at www.baaqmd.gov or by calling (877) 4-NO-BURN.
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