Valley Air District releases 2025 Annual Report to the Community

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has just released a digital highlights summary of its 2025 Annual Report. You can access the report in English here and in Spanish here.

Photo Credit: SJVAPCD 2025 Annual Report

The report summarizes air quality progress, pollution levels, control efforts, and much more that has resulted in Valley air quality to be cleanest on record.

Said Samir Sheikh, Executive Director and Air Pollution Control Officer: "Based on air monitoring data collected throughout the region, 2025 was the cleanest year on record across numerous air quality metrics. For the first time, every federal reference monitoring site recorded levels below the federal 24-hour PM2.5 standard. At the same time, we continued to make meaningful progress in reducing ozone concentrations with the lowest number of exceedances of ozone standards on record. Overall, the Valley continued to have more “Good” air quality days, and a record low number of only five “Unhealthy” days across all Valley counties, down from over 100 days just ten years ago, and hundreds of days twenty years ago. These improvements bring the Valley closer than ever to attaining the remaining federal health-based standards, and represents real improvements in the air we breathe and tangible health benefits for the communities we serve."

The report summarizes, permit actions, grants & incentives, partnerships, air quality monitoring, rewards, and general information about the Valley Air District.

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is made up of eight counties in California's Central Valley - San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin portion of Kern.

The Valley Air District is governed by a fifteen member Governing Board consisting of representatives from the Board of Supervisors of all eight counties, one Health and Science member, appointed by the Governor, one Physician, appointed by the Governor and five Valley city representatives.

Visit the agency's website to learn more about it, including rules and regulations, hearings and public meetings, current air quality data and alerts, employment, and other information.

Wood burning restrictions now in effect for the San Joaquin Valley

It's that time of year again. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (the District) has reminded everyone that as of November 1st, restrictions on residential wood burning are now in effect until the end of February 2026.

Although this is not a complete ban, residents are reminded that, depending upon air quality forecasts, residential wood burning will be either banned entirely (with specified exceptions), discouraged, or restricted to burning in registered devices only.

The reason for this policy is simple - to protect public health from the harmful emissions associated with wood burning, e.g., fine particulate air pollution referred to as PM2.5 (particulate matter with a particle size of 2.5 microns or less).

Daily burn forecasts can be found on the District's website, or by calling 1-800-SMOG INFO (1-800-766-4463), by downloading the free Valley Air app, or by signing up to receive daily burn status notifications by email.

According to Jaime Holt, the District's Chief Communications Officer, "Public health is at the heart of our mission. Every resident can make a real difference this winter by simply choosing not to burn wood. Limiting the use of fireplaces, woodstoves, and outdoor fire pits is one of the most effective ways to improve neighborhood air quality and protect community health."

Exempt from these restrictions are homes that have no other option than to burn wood for heat, burning natural gas, or burning propane gas. 

In addition, the District has a Fireplace and Woodstove Change-Out Program that provides up to $5000 for those who wish to convert their existing wood burning stoves or fireplaces with electric heat pumps or natural gas inserts.

Finally, if you own an EPA-certified wood and/or pellet-fueled device, you can use them on No Burning Unless Registered days by registering the devices with the District.