Another 'Spare the Air' alert issued for Friday

<p>The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued the season's ninth Winter Spare the Air alert for today.</p><p>The order bans burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, indoors and outdoors for 24 hours, except for homes that have no other source of heat.</p><p>Regulators said the light wind and rain mid-week failed to flush out fine particle pollution that reached unhealthy levels and threatens to do so again today.</p><p>Violators of the ban have the option to take a wood smoke awareness class, online or by mail, to learn about the hazards of wood smoke pollution in lieu of paying a $100 penalty. Second violations result in a $500 ticket; subsequent ticket amounts are higher.</p>