Winter Spare The Air Alert Issued For Saturday

Guess what? Those fireplaces have to remain idle for at least another day.

Another Winter Spare the Air alert has been issued, this one for Saturday.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District made the announcement on Friday afternoon, saying the prolonged cold weather is trapping pollutants close the ground and causing unhealthy air.

“Wood smoke pollution continues to build up throughout the Bay Area due to a stubborn weather system that has kept the smoke from dispersing,” said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the air district. “Burning wood during these weather conditions can cause significantly elevated levels of particulate pollution in our neighborhoods and communities and contributes to unhealthy air quality throughout the region.”

It will be a record seventh day in a row that an alert has been in effect.

The Saturday alert prohibits Bay Area residents from burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel both indoors and outdoors for 24 hours.

First-time violators of the ban are given the option of taking a wood smoke awareness class or paying a $100 fine. Second violations result in a $500 fine and the penalties rise with each violation after that.

It's the 11th Spare the Air alert ordered this winter.