Spare The Air: Unhealthy Air Quality Forecast In Pinole-Hercules

PINOLE-HERCULES, CA — A Spare the Air Alert for the San Francisco Bay Area has been extended through Sunday as smoke from various wildfires continue to impact the air quality in portions of the region, including in Pinole and Hercules, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

The five-day air quality index — AQI— for both cities, which are part of the Coast and Central Bay BAAQMD's reporting zone, includes unhealthy levels of PM 2.5 (microscopically small mixtures of solid particles or liquid droplets that are emitted directly into the air):

• Thursday: 163, Unhealthy for all
• Friday: 110, Unhealthy for sensitive groups
• Saturday: Unhealthy for sensitive groups
• Sunday: Unhealthy for sensitive groups
• Monday: Moderate

According to the air alert: "Concentrations of particulate matter pollution are forecast to be unhealthy. High levels of particulate matter pollution are harmful to breathe, especially for young children, seniors and those with respiratory and heart conditions. Protect your health by staying indoors and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities."

During this Spare the Air Alert, it is illegal for Bay Area residents or businesses to burn wood or manufactured firelogs in fireplaces, wood stoves or inserts, pellet stoves, outdoor fire pits, or any other wood-burning devices.