Bay Area under Spare the Air alert until Thanksgiving Day wood burning banned - Local News Matters

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued Spare the Air alerts for Wednesday and Thanksgiving Day, banning all wood-burning devices due to expected pollution increases. Officials anticipate increased wood burning during the holiday, coupled with cold temperatures and light winds, will trap smoke near the ground. Wood smoke contains carcinogens and fine particulate matter comparable to cigarette and wildfire smoke, posing health risks, especially to children and older adults. Homes relying solely on wood-burning for heat may qualify for exemptions if they use EPA-certified devices. The district lowered its wood-burning threshold from 35 to 25 micrograms per cubic meter of fine particulate matter starting October 1, allowing for earlier alerts.

Penalties for violating the ban include mandatory awareness classes and fines, escalating for repeat offenses. Residents can verify alerts through various channels, including the Spare the Air mobile app and text alerts. The National Park Service has also banned recreational fires at Ocean Beach through February.