Local/AP
Bay Area officials issue air quality alert
Associated Press
11/25/09 9:10 PM PST
SAN FRANCISCO — Residents across the San Francisco Bay Area are being told to refrain from building a fire in the fireplace on Thanksgiving Day.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued a "Spare the Air" alert for the day, which bans the burning of firewood, pellets or manufactured fire logs, either indoors or outdoors.
The alert comes as officials say air quality in the Bay Area is expected to be unhealthy Thursday because of light winds and still air.
The wood-burning ban will be in effect for Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, southern Sonoma and southwestern Solano Counties.
Officials say wood smoke is the largest source of wintertime air pollution in the region.
