Wood Burning Status

Monday, 12/31
No Spare the Air Alert in Effect
Tuesday, 1/1
Winter Spare the
Air Alert
in effect
Illegal To Burn
Spare the Air Logo
Air Quality Widgets | BAAQMD

2 Day Forecast

Air Quality Forecast
Monday, December 31 at 11:23 AM
Mon
Tue
North Counties
74
102
Coast and Central Bay
55
74
Eastern District
49
69
South Central Bay
62
79
Santa Clara Valley
72
102

Read an explanation of the color-coded AQI scale categories used in the air quality forecast.

View the extended Five-Day Air Quality Forecast.

Find out which reporting zone your city is located in.

PM Exceedances

Winter 2012-2013

Winter Spare the Air Alerts
1
National 24-Hour PM2.5 Excess Days
0
National 24-Hour PM10 Excess Days
0
California 24-Hour PM10 Excess Days
0

PM Exceedance History

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Map
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Spare the Air in the San Francisco Bay Area

 brown logo

The 2012/2013 Winter Spare the Air season runs from November 1 through February 28.

Each day by 2 p.m., the Air District will issue an air quality forecast for the next day. If air quality is forecast to be unhealthy, a Winter Spare the Air Alert will be called. The alert will be in effect the entire next day, for a full 24 hours.

When a Winter Spare the Air Alert is in effect, it is illegal to burn wood, manufactured fire logs, pellets, or any other solid fuels in your fireplace, woodstove, or outdoor fire pit.

During the winter season, wood smoke is the largest source of harmful particulate pollution, or soot. These microscopic particles are so small that several thousand could fit on the period at the end of this sentence.

On this website, residents can find information about the health effects of wood smoke, as well as detailed information about the Wood Burning Rule and how to comply with it. Here are answers to some Frequently Asked Questions about the Winter Spare the Air program.

You can also file a wood smoke complaint online.

Check Before You Burn

To find out if a Winter Spare the Air Alert is in effect, residents and business owners can do the following:

  • Call 1-877-4NO-BURN (1-877-466-2876)
  • Sign up for automatic phone alerts by calling 1-800-430-1515
  • Sign up to receive email AirAlerts
  • Download the Spare the Air App for iPhone or Android
  • Download the Spare the Air widget to your website
  • Connect with Spare the Air on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+

Spare the Air Every Day 

Help reduce pollution and prevent Spare the Air Alerts! Rethink your commute and leave your car at home twice a week. Here are some great ways to Spare the Air:

Walk or Ride Your Bike

Save money and improve your health, too! Use the Spare the Air app’s Bike Route Planner or the 511 Bike Mapper to plan your trip.

Take the Bus, Ferry or Train

Save gas and money – and reduce stress! Find the fastest route on 511 Trip Planner.

Carpool

Commute with colleagues or neighbors instead of driving alone. Find your rideshare match at 511.org.

Skip a Trip or Link Your Errands

By combining or eliminating trips, you reduce pollution in addition to saving gas and time.

News

San Geronimo Valley Wood Stove Replacement Program

Up to $750 is available to replace
non-EPA certified wood stoves with cleaner-burning equipment.  For more information on this program, see fact sheets in English and Spanish or visit 
www.maringreenbuilding.org/
woodsmoke.

Great Race Winners!

Great Race Logo

Winners of the Great Race for Clean Air 2012 have been announced.  The Great Race is a friendly competition between Bay Area employers to encourage cleaner commuting.

Spare the Air Youth Website

Spare the Air Youth image

 

Check out the Air District's new Spare the Air Youth website.  Spare the Air Youth is a new regional program that encourages children and families in the Bay Area to walk, bicycle, carpool and take transit.

Bay Area PEV Ready Website

The Air District's new Bay Area Plug-In Electric Vehicle Ready website provides useful information about electric vehicle and charger resources and Air District grant opportunities.

Spare the Air Commute Tips

 

STA Commute Tips Blue

Podcasts and Videos

Listen to Air District podcasts or watch videos about air quality related topics.

Fuel Economy Guide

The U.S. EPA and DOE are releasing the 2013 Fuel Economy Guide to help consumers choose fuel-efficient, low-emitting vehicles. 

New iPhone App

 

Visit the Apple App Store to download our new app and get Spare the Air Alerts and air quality forecasts on your iPhone.

Drive Clean

The California Air Resources Board has developed a searchable guide to the cleanest, most efficient motor vehicles.

Electric Vehicle Guide

Check out the Drive Clean Plug-In Electric Vehicle Resource Center.

Public Participation Plan Survey

The Air District is developing a plan to better involve local residents, businesses and communities in air quality issues. Help us by taking our brief survey.

Clean Air Choice Cars - 2012

In the market for a car?  Refer to a list of Clean Air Choice vehicles for 2012.

One Bay Area

Visit One Bay Area and learn about collaborative efforts for developing the region's Sustainable Communities Strategy.