The Bay Area Air District will be calling Spare the Air alerts more frequently, the agency announced this month – a move that, while aimed at reducing air pollution, drew fire from Bay Area residents.

On Spare the Air Days, residents are prohibited from burning fireplaces, fire pits or wood stoves. The anticipated increase to some 19 to 41 alerts per year compared with the historic average of 15 sparked concerns on Times-Herald social media, and the Times-Herald asked the district to respond.

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Concerns included the financial impact on low-income families; whether the biggest polluters re businesses, not residents; and whether the increase would save lives.

One reader opined that the increase in Spare the Air alerts amounted to “taking away a low-cost fuel source for hea

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