'Don’t Light Tonight' Season Begins November 1

OCTOBER 23, 2012 -- The Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District (AQMD) today announced that the 2012-13 season of its Don’t Light Tonight program will launch on November 1, 2012.

Wood smoke is a significant contributor to wintertime air pollution in Yolo and Solano counties. Wood smoke contains fine particulate pollution, which has been shown to have serious health effects when breathed, particularly for children, the elderly and those with respiratory ailments such as asthma.

Don’t Light Tonight is a program in which residents are asked to not burn wood on days in which higher levels of fine particulate pollution are forecast. Several weather conditions, including a lack of wind and dry spells, can help trap air pollution where we breathe, causing higher concentrations of fine particulates.

Yolo-Solano AQMD has four ways that residents can find out if a Don’t Light Tonight advisory is in effect.

• PHONE: The daily status will be available at (530) 757-3787.
• E-MAIL: Subscribers to Yolo-Solano AQMD’s EnviroFlash service will get e-mail alerts when an advisory has been called.
• WEBSITE: If an advisory has been called, a banner will appear on Yolo-Solano AQMD’s website at ysaqmd.org.
• FACEBOOK: By liking Yolo-Solano AQMD on Facebook, residents will be alerted if an advisory is called.

"By working toward cleaner air throughout the season with special attention to the problem days, we can protect our neighbors most vulnerable to the health impacts of air pollution," said Mat Ehrhardt, executive director of Yolo-Solano AQMD. "Before you light the log, please help the community by checking the status."

Don’t Light Tonight advisories will be called as needed through February 2013. Daily and 5-day air quality forecasts are also available through EnviroFlash. More information on the program is available at Yolo-Solano AQMD’s Don’t Light Tonight webpage.

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