To keep the air breathable during the holiday festivities, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District has requested that San Francisco residents steer clear of lighting their fireplaces with wood this Christmas. The district highlighted the practice's detrimental effects on the region's air quality, suggesting that maintaining traditions could cost everyone's health.

Hearth fires may warm gatherings, but authorities warn that such activities can plummet air quality to unhealthy levels. Much like the maligned cigarette smoke, wood smoke is laden with hazardous substances, including particulate matter, benzene, and formaldehyde. Even without the crackling fires, the district noted that Bay Area air quality is anticipated to hover in the moderate tier.

Adding insult to injury is the Christmas morning ritual of setting the decorative wrapping paper alight. The district was adamant that burning wrapping paper is not just unhealthy; it’s illegal, citing the host of chemicals—synthetic inks to plastic film—that release toxic compounds into the air. "The smoke is released into your home and neighborhood where family and friends will breathe it in," stated the district's announcement.

Residents can stay informed about the air quality and whether or not a Spare the Air Alert is in place by signing up for text alerts, calling the provided hotline, or visiting the Spare the Air website. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is responsible for safeguarding air quality across nine counties and encourages residents to engage with them on various social media platforms.