The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has recently adopted a new regulation prohibiting wood burning on days when air quality is forecast to be unhealthy.

Wood smoke contains fine particles, that can easily bypass the natural filters in the nose and penetrate deep into the lungs.  Health studies have linked long-term exposure to fine particle air pollution with serious health effects.

Between November 1 and February 28, Air District meteorologists will conduct daily forecasts of air pollution levels for the Bay Area.  If air quality is determined to be unhealthy, they will declare a "Winter Spare the Air Alert", during which time the use of wood-burning devices, including fireplaces, pellet stoves, wood stoves and outdoor fire pits, is illegal.  However, people who burn wood as their only source of heat may be exempt from the regulation.

The City also regulates the use of wood-burning devices.  Follow this link to view Foster City Municipal Code Section 15.40.

Check before you burn wood by calling 1-877-4-NO-BURN or visit www.sparetheair.org for more information.