Avoid Burning Wood Over Thanksgiving, Air District Requests

SAN FRANCISCO — The scent of wood smoke wafted through some parts of the Bay Area Tuesday night, but air quality managers are urging residents to forgo lighting their fireplaces and wood stoves over Thanksgiving to limit the impacts of harmful air pollution.

According to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), smoke from the Bay Area's 1.2 million wood-burning fireplaces and stoves are the largest single source of wintertime air pollution, accounting for one-third of harmful fine particulate emissions across the region.

The air district has not issued a Spare the Air alert, but instead is asking residents to voluntarily consider using cleaner fuel sources — especially on holidays when wood burning is more common and can create unhealthy air quality levels.

"As we look forward to Thanksgiving traditions with friends and family, consider the impact wood smoke has on air quality and our health," said Dr. Philip Fine, the BAAQMD's executive officer. "Burning wood in the fireplace releases harmful pollutants inside and outside the home that pose real health risks. By skipping a fire and choosing cleaner heating alternatives, we can protect the air we breathe and ensure a safe and healthy holiday for all."

According to the BAAQMD, a single fireplace can generate enough pollution to affect an entire neighborhood, and exposure to wood smoke has been liked to serious respiratory illnesses and an increased risk of heart attacks. Even brief exposure is unhealthy and can prove especially harmful to children, elderly neighbors and those with respiratory conditions, officials said.

The air district recommends residents learn about its "Clean HEET" program, which is designed to help offset the cost of switching from wood-burning fuel sources to an electric heat pump.