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Politics & Government

Fires Forbidden on Christmas Day

Officials call the10th Spare the Air alert this season.

Have chestnuts if you will, but don't even think of roasting them on an open fire this Christmas: The Bay Area’s 10th Spare the Air alert has been called for Sunday, putting the kibosh on wood burning.

Coal, pellets and fire logs are ruled out as well -- indoors and out, today and tomorrow.

Cold, still weather conditions continue to trap air pollution close to the ground under a layer of warmer air, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

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Wood smoke is the primary culprit behind wintertime air pollution. It contains harmful pollutants, such as soot and carbon monoxide, and toxins including dioxin, which has been linked to increased cancer rates in adults.

About one-third of the harmful soot in the winter air can be attributed to wood smoke from the roughly 1.4 million fireplaces and wood stoves in the Bay Area, according to the district. Industry only accounts for 10 to 15 percent of wintertime air pollution, said spokesman Aaron Richardson. 

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Last year, the district declared a total of four spare the air days for the entire season, which begins on Nov. 1. Each of the last several years saw only a handful of air alerts, although in 2006 there were 30.

"It depends a lot on whether we get storm fronts moving through, cleaning out the atmosphere," Richardson said. "It's been extra still this year."

However, while wood burning is forbidden, exemptions are available in cases where a wood burning stove is the only source of heat.

More information about the ban can be found at www.sparetheair.org or by calling (877) 4NO-BURN (466-2876).

Those wishing to receive automatic phone calls when a Winter Spare the Air alert is issued can register for the alerts by calling (800) 430-1515.

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