Seasons of Change

Usually with dipping temperatures comes the increased smell of burning firewood permeating through the cold night air. However, there will be a decrease in the likelihood of that happening this winter season. A new wood-burning law has come into effect, requiring residents of the nine Bay Area counties to think of alternative ways to keep warm, and which doesn't involve lighting up a fireplace, wood stove, or outdoor fire pit.

Air experts estimate that wood burning in fireplaces and wood stoves creates about one-third of the winter particulate air pollution in the Bay Area. Due to that, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) has banned wood-burning on Spare the Air days. The ban will be in effect until Feb. 28th and is expected to affect about 20 days. First time violators will receive written warnings. A second violation could result in a fine ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars.

If you'd like to be notified via e-mail or text message regarding which days those will be, you can sign up to receive alerts by visiting http://www.sparetheair.org/. You can also get that same information by calling the Bay Area Air District's "Check Before You Burn" line at 1-877-4NO-BURN (1-877-466-2816). Any complaints should be directed to the BAAQMD, toll free at 1-800-334-ODOR (6367), and NOT the Fire or Police departments. Names and addresses will be kept completely confidential.