First Winter Spare The Air Alert Called For Monday

Air quality officials have issued their first winter Spare The Air alert for the Bay Area this season.

Bay Area Air Quality Management District officials said they have issued the alert for Monday because cold, still weather has allowed pollution levels to rise in the region.

The alert means it's illegal to burn wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel either indoors or outdoors for 24 hours.

First-time violators will have the option of taking a wood smoke awareness class or paying a $100 fine. Second violations result in a $500 fine and the citation amount rises subsequently after that.

 “In the wintertime, wood smoke is a hazard to public health in the Bay Area,” said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the air district. “It’s the ‘other second-hand smoke’ with many of the same hazards as cigarette smoke, and it’s especially harmful to children, the elderly, and people with respiratory conditions.”