The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued a winter Spare the Air alert for Sunday, banning indoor and outdoor wood burning.
"It's important for Bay Area residents to refrain from burning while this winter Spare the Air alert is in effect, to protect their health and the health of the community," air district executive officer Jack Broadbent said in a prepared statement.
Wood smoke is a major source of air pollution during winter, contributing about one-third of the harmful fine particulate pollution in Bay Area air, Broadbent said.
Under the new rule, through the end of February, anyone who burns wood during the Spare the Air alerts will receive a written warning for a first violation and fines for a second violation. The fines range from several hundred to several thousand dollars.
The new rule also bans the sale of non-EPA-certified wood-burning devices in the Bay Area and forbids the installation of such devices in new housing construction or remodels.
More information on winter Spare the Air days can be found at the district's Web site: www.sparetheair.org
