Politics & Government

Once More... Winter Spare The Air Alert Issued For Thursday

Bay Area air quality officials order the alert for a record fifth day in a year

By David Mills/Patch

No roasting chestnuts on an open fire... not yet.

Another Winter Spare the Air alert has been issued for Thursday.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District made the announcement on Wednesday afternoon, saying the prolonged cold weather is trapping pollutants close the ground and causing unhealthy air.

It will be a record fifth day in a row that an alert has been in effect.

The Thursday alert prohibits Bay Area residents from burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel both indoors and outdoors for 24 hours.

First-time violators of the ban are given the option of taking a wood smoke awareness class or paying a $100 fine. Second violations result in a $500 fine and the penalties rise with each violation after that.

It's the ninth Spare the Air alert ordered this winter.


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