Bay Area Bans Wood Burning Amid Spare the Air Alert

Residents urged to avoid wood fires as fine particle pollution levels rise

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued a Spare the Air Alert banning wood burning across the nine-county region on Thursday. The prohibition covers fireplaces, wood stoves, outdoor fire pits, and most other solid-fuel burning, with only narrow exemptions for homes without other heating sources. First-time violators can face $100 fines if they decline a wood-smoke awareness course.

Why it matters

Wood smoke is a major contributor to fine particulate matter pollution, which can be harmful to public health, especially for vulnerable groups like children, older adults, and those with respiratory or heart conditions. The Spare the Air Alert aims to reduce this pollution and protect residents.

The details

The Spare the Air Alert bans all wood burning, including fireplaces, wood stoves, pellet stoves, manufactured logs, and outdoor fire pits. Exemptions are limited to homes without permanently installed heating. First-time violators are typically offered a wood-smoke awareness course, but can receive a $100 citation if they decline. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District lowered the PM2.5 trigger for these alerts last fall, which could lead to more frequent bans.

  • The Spare the Air Alert is in effect on Thursday, February 4, 2026.
  • The Bay Area Air Quality Management District tightened its Wood-Burning Rule last fall, lowering the PM2.5 trigger from 35 to 25 micrograms per cubic meter.

The players

Bay Area Air Quality Management District

The regional agency responsible for monitoring and regulating air quality in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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What they’re saying

“Wood smoke is a real health concern, not just an annoyance. Fine particles can burrow deep into the lungs and may trigger asthma attacks, worsen COPD, and increase heart attack risk, particularly among young children, older adults, and people with respiratory or heart conditions.”

— Bay Area Air Quality Management District (hoodline.com)

What’s next

The Spare the Air Alert could change with the weather, and officials say they will update the public if the Air District extends or cancels the alert.

The takeaway

This Spare the Air Alert highlights the ongoing efforts to improve air quality and protect public health in the Bay Area. While wood burning may provide warmth and ambiance, the risks of fine particle pollution outweigh those benefits on certain days, requiring residents to find alternative heating sources.