The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued a Winter Spare the Air Alert for today due to unhealthy air quality conditions.
The alert means that burning wood or other solid fuels is prohibited.
BAAQMD district officials said a high-pressure system that has prevented wind and rain from clearing air pollution out of the region is expected to remain in place throughout the weekend, at minimum.
This is the fifteenth alert so far in this year's Winter Spare the Air season, and Saturday marks the ninth consecutive day in a row where Winter Spare the Air alerts have been issued.
If current conditions persist through Tuesday, the region could break last year's record of 11 consecutive alerts.
Jack Broadbent, BAAQMD executive officer, said in a prepared statement that the warm weather has also increased pollen levels in the air. That can be problematic for area residents with allergies or other respiratory conditions.
Penalties for violating the prohibition on burning wood or other solid fuels include a $100 fine, although first-time offenders may also have the option of attending a wood smoke awareness class in lieu of paying the fine.
Local
Fines for second and subsequent offenses start at $500.
Homes that do not have an installed source of gas or electric heat may be able to apply to the district for an exemption if they rely on a wood stove or fireplace as the sole source of warmth, BAAQMD district officials said.
For more information, call the district's hotline at (877) 4-NO-BURN or visit its website at www.sparetheair.org.
