Danville Residents Asked to Spare the Air, Again, As Heat Persists

A fifth consecutive Spare the Air alert has been issued by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District for Friday because of continued unhealthy levels of ozone expected in the region.

Persistent high temperatures and light winds in inland parts of the Bay Area combined with vehicle exhaust and smoke from the Soberanes Fire in Monterey County have prompted the multiple alerts in a row. There have been 13 Spare the Air alerts in all this summer season because of unhealthy levels of ozone, otherwise known as smog, air district officials said.

"A string of Spare the Air alerts is a reminder that we need to re-think how we commute to and from work," air district executive officer Jack Broadbent said in a statement. "Traffic congestion from so many solo
drivers is a major contributor to smog here in the Bay Area and it's a problem we have the power to change."

Air district officials encourage residents to drive less or drive electric vehicles. Bay Area residents can visit www.stacommutetips.org to find a list of commute programs in their area.

By Bay City News

Photo of Soberanes Fire in Monterey County courtesy CalFire