The Air District is issuing a Spare the Air Alert for Thursday, February 5, which bans burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors.
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Advisory
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Valero Refinery in Benicia notified the Air District of continued refinery equipment shutdowns beginning 2/5. Odors and/or flaring may occur. Air District inspectors will be closely monitoring. Report air quality complaints: 800-334-ODOR or online.
Learn about San Francisco County - its climate, potential air pollution concerns, and current air quality. You can also view upcoming Air District events in San Francisco County and read about local efforts to improve air quality.
The Air District is issuing a Spare the Air Alert for Thursday, February 5, which bans burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors.
The Air District's Board of Directors has approved the grant guidelines for the Local Community Benefits Fund, marking a major milestone for the Bay Reinvesting Penalties for Air Improvement and Resilience program, or Bay REPAIR program. The program will begin accepting grant applications on Jan. 29, 2026, opening a new opportunity for community-led projects that reduce air pollution, improve public health and strengthen community resilience in Benicia, Richmond and surrounding communities.
The Air District’s Clean HEET Program is now accepting applications for grants that can help to offset the cost of switching from wood-burning or pellet-burning stoves, fireplace inserts or open-hearth fireplaces to an electric heat pump. A decommission-only option is also available for homeowners to remove existing open-hearth fireplaces or older, uncertified wood-burning stoves or inserts. Switching to an electric heat pump helps improve air quality in communities by replacing polluting wood-burning devices with cleaner heating options.
The Air District is extending a Spare the Air Alert through Sunday, January 18, which bans burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors. A Spare the Air Alert remains in effect today, Saturday, January 17.
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San Francisco County rests at the northern end of the San Francisco Peninsula, bounded by San Mateo County in the south, the Pacific Ocean to the west, San Francisco Bay to the east, and the Golden Gate Bridge to the north. Three San Francisco County representatives sit on the Air District’s Board of Directors.
Because most of San Francisco's landscape is below 200 feet, the marine layer flows across most of the city, creating a cool and windy climate. The southeastern portion of the county, however, tends to be warmer and sunnier, with fewer foggy days. In the winter, average daily temperatures are mild overnight and moderate during the day, while summertime temperatures tend to remain moderate throughout the season. The highest wind speeds are focused along the western coast and generally mild throughout the county. Rainfall averages about 20 inches per year, with the highest amounts reported on the western coast.
Interactive Air Monitoring Stations Map
Ozone and fine particle pollution, or PM2.5, are the major regional air pollutants of concern in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ozone is primarily a problem in the summer, and fine particle pollution in the winter.
In San Francisco, ozone almost never exceeds health standards and PM2.5 only exceeds the national standard once or twice each year, generally. Being surrounded by water on three sides keeps temperatures within a narrow range, whereby winter low temperatures rarely reach freezing and summer high temperatures stay well below levels where ozone would form and become unhealthy.
Last Updated: 4/21/2017