The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued a winter Spare the Air alert for today, banning indoor and outdoor wood burning, manufactured firelogs and any other solid fuel.
"Although the Bay Area is experiencing spring-like weather, particulate pollution has reached unhealthy levels," air district executive officer Jack Broadbent said in a prepared statement.
Particulate pollution is associated with serious health risks and is especially harmful to children, the elderly and those with respiratory problems, Broadbent said.
According to Dr. Scott Campbell, attending physician with Kaiser Permanente San Francisco's Emergency Department, "Some Bay Area residents may experience difficulty breathing on days like today."
More information on winter Spare the Air days can be found at the district's Web site: www.sparetheair.org.
