SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A Spare the Air alert has been issued for Thursday, Jan. 15 due to wood smoke pollution. The Bay Area Air District is advising that smoke from increased wood burning combined with "limited vertical mixing," light offshore winds, and cold overnight temperatures is expected to cause elevated pollution levels. High pressure across Northern California will act as a lid, trapping smoke close to the ground, the district said. Air pollution from the Central Valley may also be carried to the Bay Area by offshore winds. SF supes clear the way for removal of Vaillancourt Fountain from Embarcadero With the alert in effect, the burning of wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuels will be banned, both indoors and outdoors. "It is illegal for Bay Area residents and businesses to use their fireplaces, wood stoves, pellet stoves, outdoor fire pits or any other wood-burning devices during a Spare the Air Alert for fine particle pollution," said the BAAD. Allowable exemptions include homes where wood stoves or fireplaces are the only source of heat. However, anyone whose sole source of heat is a wood-burning device must use an EPA-certified or pellet-fueled device registered with the Air District as an exemption. "Like cigarette smoke or wildfire smoke, wood smoke contains carcinogenic substances, such as particulate matter and carbon monoxide, which are harmful when inhaled," said the Air District. "Exposure to wood smoke has been linked to serious respiratory illnesses, increased risk of heart attacks and certain types of cancer." The district warns that the fine particulate matter in wood smoke is especially harmful for children, elderly people, and those with respiratory conditions. ...read more read less