Air Board: No More Burning For Season

The following was contributed by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is announcing the close of the permissible burn seasons for crop replacement, forest management, orchard pruning and attrition, and range management within the Bay Area effective Wednesday, May 1, 2013.

These permissible fires can only take place on a burn day during the permissible burn season as determined by the Air District.

Open burning is regulated because of its impact on air quality. Certain fires for agricultural purposes, flood control, fire training and the prevention of fire hazards, among other purposes, are allowed when weather conditions are favorable, many of them during specified periods throughout the year. Each day of the year is designated as either a BURN or a NO BURN day, and permissible fires can only be set during their established burn season on a designated BURN day.

Open burning requirements apply to the entire nine-county Bay Area, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, southwestern Solano and southern Sonoma counties.

The Air District’s open burning regulation (Regulation 5) is available at www.baaqmd.gov.  Type “Open Burning Regulation 5” into the “Search” field and the link will appear at the top of your search results page.  Open burn information is also available on the Air District’s toll-free number at 1-800-HELP AIR (435-7247).

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (www.baaqmd.gov) is the regional agency responsible for protecting air quality in the nine-county Bay Area.