A stagnant cloud of smoke-filled air continues to pollute parts of the Bay Area, creating unhealthy breathing conditions despite a Christmas ban on wood fires.
Air quality index readings remained above 100 in much of the Bay Area. Parts of East San Jose, Alameda, Fremont and Oakland surged above 150 on Sunday morning, according to Purple Air, a real-time air quality measuring service. Readings between 101-150 mean the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups while anything above 151 means it’s unhealthy for everyone.
The poor air quality comes as local officials threaten $100 fines on burning firewood, which is the main driver of the low-slung cloud of polluted air hanging over the region. On Sunday officials extended a Spare the Air alert through Monday, which was originally planned to expire on Sunday.
“Cold overnight temperatures, stagnant air, patchy dense fog and a high-pressure system over the region is allowing wood smoke pollution to continue to build up over the region,” the Bay Area Air Quality Management District said Sunday.
Along with the wood smoke, offshore winds are bringing additional pollution from Central Valley into the Bay Area.
“Unfortunately, weather conditions are leading to significant smoke pollution buildup throughout the region that is expected to cause unhealthy air quality through the Christmas holiday,” Sharon Landers, interim executive officer of the air district, said in a statement last week. “It’s vital that we refrain from wood burning to reduce air pollution so all Bay Area residents can enjoy a healthier, happier holiday weekend.”
A #SparetheAir Alert is in effect today, 12/25! It is illegal for Bay Area residents & businesses to burn wood or manufactured firelogs in fireplaces, woodstoves & inserts, pellet stoves, outdoor fire pits, or other wood burning devices. See more at https://t.co/wbkYMs82gs. pic.twitter.com/qDsIIXz1wd
— Spare The Air (@SpareTheAir) December 25, 2022
The fire ban includes wood stoves, pellet stoves and outdoor fire pits, although there are exemptions for homes that lack another form of heating.
Source: www.mercurynews.com