Moderate air quality is expected to persist over the Bay Area this week as pollution from wood smoke stays near ground level, a spokeswoman for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District said Monday.
Cold temperatures overnight and the holiday season means more of the approximately 1.4 million fireplaces and wood stoves in the region are in use, air district spokeswoman Erin DeMerritt said.
Between November and February, wood smoke is the largest source of pollution in the Bay Area.
A weather pattern of warm air over cold air in the atmosphere is expected to act like a lid and keep wood smoke close to the ground.
A similar stagnant weather pattern was in place last week. Wood smoke and vehicle emissions contributed to less than ideal air quality then.
If you don’t read the news every day how would you even know this? This whole system is 30 years old. Oh I bet they announce it on the radio too. ?
I know it isn’t healthy for us, but I LOVE the smell of wood smoke!! Not the forest fires, but the fireplaces during the winter!!
Fired up the big green egg with some brisket, smoked with some applewood. Looking forward to some good eatin’
The doctor recommends green eggs and ham
Wood smoke is the biggest source of pollution during the period of Nov-Feb? Really, more than the cars on the road, the big rigs, the ships in the bay … I have a hard time believing that considering on my block, where every house has a fireplace but only a 3-4 are ever used.
And the 1.4 Million fireplaces are in use?
I would love to see the data on that. Not that I don’t believe a public figure, but I don’t.
They lie. It’s how they do business. Nothing more complicated then that. Liberals don’t even know how to burn wood. Its to much work for them.
@Sam
I believe it to be a lie as well ..
TBH, I burn 5-6 a week in the cold months. Why heat my entire house when the family is one or two rooms? Now I burn Madrone, Black Oak and Almond. All low ash, low smoke (particulate) and high heat woods.
I love the smell of a good hot fire.
Well – strictly speaking , they said that more of the 1.4 million fireplaces will be in use….
They don’t say HOW many more of the fireplaces will be used…2? 3? 10? Out of 1.4 million?
Negligible. They don’t know what they’re talking about.
Crazy they know how many people will start fires in the 1.4M fireplaces and how it will impact the air. If it’s so bad, stop all activity at the ports and close the roads. Urgh.
We too love the smell & warmth of a winter fire at home. We only do it maybe once a week. I truly can’t believe that that’s all the pollution that’s in the air. But they make a big deal out of it.
In a kind of a rant and a rave,
I have to say that the government and the environmentalists would not be concerned about it at all if it were being caused by 1.7 illegal aliens who snuck into the country this year….they would just say “well that’s different’.
…..or the “up to 29%” of air pollution that floats over from China.
Someone tell them this is ruining the Kwanza Log in the fireplace and they’ll stop it immediately.
💥💥💥 🔥🔥🔥 Now that’s how we need to start winning.
@WC….I like a big cup of coffee in the morning before I drop a Kwanzaa Log.
.
It’s really smoke and coal carbon particulates (PM10 and PM2.5) blowing into the SF Bay Area from China.
@ Exit12A : thanks for posting this, as they don’t like to acknowledge this source.
So this is why I bristle when they try to guilt me over a fireplace at home used maybe four times in the Christmas season.
Smoke pollution will become more prevalent with escalating PG&E Nat.Gas prices
Truth be told is most people don’t care…
All-electric homes are the political agenda.
It’s easy to control the population when all the government has to do is cut electricity to manipulate the people.
Of course, it’s all a lie look who’s on the board of directors for the BAAQ.
https://www.baaqmd.gov/about-the-air-district/board-of-directors.
Putting all your eggs in one basket for energy needs or anything else for that matter is a foolish idea.
As with everything else in today’s world, it’s all about the government’s control of the people.
Stop complaining, take action.
Time to throw another log on the fire.
And come and tell me why you’re leaving me
After two months of suffering from a horrible allergy and chest congestion, a slew of meds including meds for COPD (which I don’t have), all due to particulate matter from the various fires in the state, I was finally just about healed and BAM! — It all comes back due to more particulate matter being introduced into the air by people burning wood.
Do I cry and moan? Do I blame others for my problem? No, I’m a Boomer and we don’t blame others for our problems. We look for solutions to fix ourselves and make ourselves better.
So, we bought an air purifier today (we didn’t ask for a free one from the county, like some people) and now we have the best of both worlds: we have clean air inside and can still step outside and experience the festive smell of wood-burning fires. I love this time of year!