Wood burning banned in Valley’s unhealthy air

Rare levels of microscopic soot, chemicals and other debris prompted air authorities Friday to ban wood burning in several San Joaquin Valley counties. Authorities also asked the public to reduce driving.

“Because of abnormal weather conditions, we are experiencing unusually high pollution levels that are dangerous to public health,” said Seyed Sadredin, executive director of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.

Particle pollution in some parts of the Valley – Clovis and Bakersfield – have spiked to three times higher than the daily health standard, which is 35 micrograms per cubic meter of air. At midday Friday, the air monitor in Clovis showed 115 micrograms.

The weather pattern has developed an unusually strong inversion layer, keeping temperatures high and trapping fine particulates in the air basin, the district reported. The district banned all residential wood burning, including clean-burning registered devices, in Fresno, Madera, Kings and Tulare counties and the Valley portion of Kern County.

Fine particulate pollution can cause respiratory and lung disease, heart attacks and even stroke. People should follow the hourly updates on the air district’s Web page and reduce their exposure outdoors during spikes.

Air quality forecasters expect the current pattern to linger into the weekend.

This story was originally published November 7, 2014 at 8:18 PM with the headline "Wood burning banned in Valley’s unhealthy air."