What Are Spare the Air Days?
Spare the Air Days are called when the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, or BAAQMD, issues a warning that air quality the next day will be considered "unhealthy" on the AQI scale. This means that the air quality on a Spare the Air Day will usually exceed 151 on the AQI scale, while a day that measures 150 or below on the scale will generally not be a Spare the Air Day. A single Spare the Air Day lasts for twenty-four hours, and during that time it is illegal for any person in the Bay Area to burn solid fuels such as wood, artificial logs, or pellets.
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The AQI Scale |
Consequences for Violating Spare the Air Days
If someone observes a neighbor violating the rules of a Spare the Air Day, they may call the BAAQMD, which will dispatch an inspector to the area of complaint. The first time an inspector observes someone violating a Spare the Air Day, that person must attend an awareness class about the harms of wood smoke. The second violation will incur a $500 fine, with greater fines for subsequent violations.