Sustainability

Spare the Air Woodburning Rule

The Leaflet | Jan. 2025

January 28, 2025

Blue circle Spare the Air logo

You may have noticed recently alerts in the local news about prohibiting wood burning. These alerts, known as Spare the Air Alerts, are part of the Spare the Air Wood Burning Rule passed by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) in 2008 to reduce harmful smoke particulates in the air produced from woodburning. On calm winter days an inversion layer of warm air can sit over the cold air, trapping and condensing any harmful smoke particulates. When these conditions are expected, BAAQMD will call a Spare the Air Alert for particulate pollution, during which the use of fireplaces, outdoor fire pits, and wood stoves are not allowed. Sign up for alerts here to stay informed.