Spare the Air in the San Francisco Bay Area

The 2011/2012 Winter Spare the Air season runs from November 1 through February 29. 

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.

During a Winter Spare the Air Alert, the use of fireplaces, pellet stoves, wood stoves, fireplace inserts and outdoor fire pits is illegal.

The Air District will also call Recommended No-Burn Days in an effort to reduce levels of fine particles, or soot, and to prevent the need to call mandatory Winter Spare the Air Alerts that ban wood burning.

During the winter season, wood smoke is the largest source of harmful soot pollution. 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 who own or use any indoor or outdoor fireplace, fire pit or wood or pellet stove 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 for email AirAlerts 
• Follow @SpareTheAir on Twitter and become a fan of “Spare the Air, Bay Area” on Facebook
• Download the Spare the Air widget 

Spare the Air Every Day 

Walk or Ride

Walking or riding a bike combines your daily exercise and your commute - save money and improve your health too!

Take Transit

The Bay Area has many transit options, many of which have wireless access and most use Clipper. Take the bus, ferry or train and you will save gas, money and stress. Find the fastest route on Trip Planner.

Carpool

Find your rideshare match at 511.org. Carpooling is one of the best ways to reduce air pollution from commuting, and you can exhale your day or catch up with colleagues and neighbors along the way.

Skip a Trip or Link Your Errands

Combine trips or eliminate one altogether. Your car emits more pollution when you start your car after it has been sitting for about an hour. By grouping your errands, you reduce the ‘cold starts’; plus you'll save gas and time by eliminating extra trips.

Drive Smart

A well maintained, well driven vehicle will get you much better gas mileage, especially if you avoid congested routes. Try out these tips to see firsthand.

Although the official 2011 Spare the Air smog season runs from May 2 through September, we encourage Bay Area residents and commuters to Spare the Air Every Day!