Published: February 11, 2008
On Days When Burning is Permitted, Burn Cleanly
AQMD Offers Winter Warming Tips for Residents to Consider
Fireplaces in Sacramento County may be a bit more idle this winter as residents experience their first Check Before You Burn season, but many residents don't realize that the new law, which is in effect from November through February of each year, does not actually prohibit wood burning at all times. It does, however, restrict wood burning on certain days throughout the winter when air pollution is forecast to be unhealthy to breathe.
When there are no restrictions in place, the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District still encourages residents to refrain from burning altogether or to at least burn "cleanly." This will reduce wintertime air pollution and improve air quality, resulting in fewer "no burn" days and more frequent "burn cleanly" days in the future. More importantly, however, reducing particulate matter caused by wood burning helps everyone's health.
Eliminating all wood burning fires is the healthiest choice, but those who opt to burn in their fireplaces can burn "cleanly" and still help reduce particulate matter emissions. Burning cleanly does not require much effort-just a little bit of planning before deciding to light a fire will make a big difference in air quality. Any household or business that frequently lights fires may consider taking bigger steps to achieve cleaner burning practices. Even the smallest effort to burn cleanly will help reduce particulate matter pollution in Sacramento County.
The following clean burning tips offer information on how to build a clean, efficient and safe wood burning fire in your fireplace or wood stove:
Simple Tips
Ensure firewood is clean, seasoned and dry before burning it. Unseasoned or moist wood smolders and creates additional pollution.
Never burn garbage, glossy paper such as magazines and wrapping paper, or plastics, chemically treated or painted wood in fireplaces or stoves. Doing so is illegal and hazardous to public health.
Don't build large, smoldering fires -heavy smoke emits more air pollution and lingers longer in the air, which makes the air unhealthier to breathe.
Give your fire plenty of room-a fire with a generous air supply reduces smoke.
Tips for the Frequent Fire Builder
These tips may require a little extra time or money, but will provide a household with a longer-lasting way to burn cleanly:
Purchase a cleaner burning, low-emission hearth product. Visit http://sparetheair.com/burncheck.cfm to find links to a list of EPA certified stoves or other cleaner burning hearth appliances.
The AQMD offers cash incentives to residents who purchase an EPA certified device - visit www.AirQuality.org to find out more information on the wood stove and wood fireplace changeout program.
Have your chimney inspected and cleaned once a year by a licensed contractor.
Make sure wood stove and fireplace inserts fit the heating needs of the home-inserts that are too large produce more heat than needed and create excess smoke when you use the damper.
The new Check Before You Burn law has been established to reduce the harmful pollution that comes from indoor and outdoor fireplaces, wood stoves, firepits and chimineas. Residents breathe poor air when weather conditions trap pollution close to the ground during the fall and winter months. It is the AQMD's responsibility to protect public health and achieve clean air goals. To learn more or to find out if any burn restrictions are in place each day, visit
www.SpareTheAir.com or
www.AirQuality.org or call 877-NOBURN5 (877-662-8765).
A cleaner burning fire will still warm your home while emitting less harmful pollution into the air, which helps everyone breathe easier.
Search News
