Politics & Government

10th Straight Spare the Air Day Called for Tuesday

By Bay City News Service

A 10th consecutive Winter Spare the Air alert has been issued for Tuesday by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, banning wood burning in the region.

An ongoing cold weather pattern combined with low winds have prompted the string of alerts, issued by the air district when air pollution rises to unhealthy levels

 The alert is the 14th since the district's Winter Spare the Air season began on Nov. 1 and bans wood burning both indoors and outdoors, with exemptions for homes that have no other source of heat.

First-time violators of the ban are offered a wood smoke awareness class or a $100 ticket. Subsequent violations can lead to increasing fines, according to the air district.

The daily burn status in the Bay Area can be found online at www.baaqmd.gov or www.sparetheair.org, by calling (877) 4-NO-BURN or by signing up for Spare the Air iPhone or Android apps.

Copyright © 2013 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.


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