Marin Residents Asked To Avoid Firewood, Fireworks This Weekend

BAY AREA, CA — Wood smoke is the major source of air pollution in the Bay Area in the wintertime and is especially harmful to children, the elderly and people with respiratory conditions, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

To help keep the air quality moderate this weekend in the Bay Area, residents of Marin and the eight other Bay Area counties have been asked to not burn wood in their fireplaces, woodstoves or outdoor fire pits through the New Year's holiday.

Without additional wood-burning activity, the air quality is expected to be moderate throughout the nine-county region, the air district said Thursday. However, wood burning through the New Year’s holiday would significantly impact localized areas and neighborhoods. It would also significantly impact indoor air quality, the air district said.

A spare-the-air-alert has not been issued and wood burning is not illegal; however, the air district said it strongly discourages wood burning at this time.

5-Day Air Quality Forecast For Bay Area Zones

No Fireworks, Either

Although fireworks might be synonymous with the new year for some people, the air district has also asked residents to refrain from setting off any personal firework displays through the holiday weekend.

"Fireworks and wood smoke can cause an unhealthy spike in air pollution and create excess smoke and ash in neighborhoods," a spokesperson from the air district said. "Like cigarette or wildfire smoke, wood smoke contains carcinogenic substances such as particulate matter, benzene and formaldehyde, which are harmful when inhaled."

The air district has more information on its website at Baaqmd.com.