'Don't Light Tonight' In Effect For Yolo-Solano

DIXON, CA — A 24-hour "Don't Light Tonight" advisory was in effect Friday for Dixon, Rio Vista and Vacaville, along with all of Yolo County. Under the alert issued by the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District, residents are urged to refrain from burning wood or using their fireplaces or wood and pellet stoves.

Yolo-Solano AQMD were expecting higher levels of particulate matter in the region, with wood burning a significant contributor to particulate pollution. The air quality forecast was already in the "yellow" — or moderate — range for both Friday and Saturday, according to the air district.

"The elevated use of fireplaces and wood stoves raise the levels of fine particulate pollution (commonly called soot) in our air," Yolo-Solano AQMD officials said. "Fine particulates cause breathing problems for many residents, especially the very young, the elderly, those with respiratory ailments such as asthma and those with heart disease."

Patch file photo by Jenna Fisher