The second season of the Bay Area’s crackdown on wood burning began on Sunday . The rule will be in place from Nov. through Feb. 28 and outlaws the use of wood-burning devices including fireplaces, pellet stoves, wood stoves and outdoor fire pits on “Spare the Air” days.

Last winter the Bay Area Air Quality Management District launched a zero-tolerance policy for wood smoke on “Spare the Air” days, when weather conditions make it likely that smoke will hang in the air and cause particulate pollution, making it hard for some people to breathe.
On bad-air nights during the winter, smoke from 1.4 million fireplaces and wood stoves in the Bay Area accounts for a third of the air pollution outpacing cars, which account for 23 percent of the pollution.

A violation of the ban can vary from a warning the first time and is subject to a $400.00 fine for repeated violations.
There are expected to be between 15 and 20 Spare the Air alerts during the season and
the rule applies to the nine-county Bay Area region, which serves a population of about 7 million people.

For more information go to http://www.sparetheair.org