Spare the Air notice extended through Tuesday — little wind

On the 11th Spare the Air day, Bay Area officials gave the region two more.

The notice issued Sunday means that burning wood or other solid fuels is prohibited, both indoors and outdoors. The alerts, for Christmas Day and Tuesday, are the 12th and 13th of the winter season issued by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

The district issued alerts for the three-day period that started Friday, but extended them another two days because of the continually stagnant air.

“We appreciate Bay Area residents’ help by not burning in their fireplaces, and it’s because of the public’s help that we have been able to avoid air quality exceedances, but just barely,” Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the district, said in a statement. “We are hoping everyone enjoys the holidays this next week and remains vigilant in helping to protect air quality for their families, friends and neighbors.”

Wood smoke is the largest source of air pollution in the Bay Area, according to the district.

The only exemption to the ban on fireplace, wood stove and pellet stove burning is for homes where those devices represent the only source of heat. Even then, the devices must be certified by the Environmental Protection Agency and registered with the district.

The district cited a weakening high-pressure system over the region that through Tuesday is expected to trap any smoke close to the ground. Combined with low temperatures and little wind, the weather system can lead to poor air quality.

“It’ll continue to be dry with light winds,” said Anna Schneider, a National Weather Service meteorologist.

Lows are forecast to be in the mid-40s and highs around 60 for Monday and Tuesday in the Bay Area, Schneider said. At most, wind speeds might get up to 10 or 15 mph.