Overview
- An Air District alert covers Wednesday through Thanksgiving, making all wood and solid-fuel burning illegal in indoor fireplaces, stoves, and outdoor fire pits.
- Calm winds, high pressure, and dense fog are trapping fine particulate pollution near the ground, with the National Weather Service noting widespread fog and reduced visibility.
- The trigger for Winter Spare the Air alerts was lowered from 35 to 25 micrograms per cubic meter, and officials now anticipate roughly 19 to 41 no-burn days each year.
- Homes that rely on an EPA-certified or pellet-fueled, registered device as their only heat source are exempt, and gas, propane, and electric fireplaces remain permitted.
- First-time violators can take a wood-smoke awareness course or face a $100 ticket, repeat offenses can reach $500 or more, and residents can check status at sparetheair.org or 1-877-4NO-BURN; separate beach fire restrictions at Ocean Beach run through February.