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Sacramento got some news this week.
If you have a wood-burning fireplace in your house you will be restricted on when you can burn.
This will include all of Sacramento County and unincorporated areas of Sacramento County as well as the cities of Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, Isleton Rancho Cordova and Sacramento.
Homes burning wood are the largest single source of Sacramento County’s air quality problems.
There will be days when the County will issue a “no burn” starting December 1, 2007. It’s important to comply as the first offense will be $50 and subsequent violations go up.
There are exceptions for those who have wood-burning as there only source of heat, devices that are fired by gaseous fuel (propane), cook-stoves and BBQ.
Television, radio and newspapers will notify Sacramentans of “No Burn” days and you may also go to Spare the Air for information each day on whether or not to burn. Another great source on the Internet to see if it’s a burn day in your zip code is When to Burn.
This restriction includes those with pellet stoves.
This does not apply to gas fireplaces.
On days when you can burn wood, it’s a good idea to burn clean so that we avoid “no burn” days. Burning clean means to burn dry, seasoned, hardwood. Don’t burn wood that is moist or wet, it will smoke and that’s what we are trying to avoid. Burning manufactured logs is not recommended.
There are four stages to the Burn Restrictions:
Stage 2 is all burning of any solid fuel is prohibited
Stage 1 there is no burning unless an EPA certified fireplace insert or stove is used
Burning Discouraged but if you do burn, a stove or fireplace insert is recommended
Burn Cleanly is burning wood that is dry and seasoned hardwood
For more information about how you can help see Sacramento Air Quality
Be sure to read frequently asked questions about Check Before You Burn.
wow, learn something new every day out here. Great community post from a pro Sacramento agent. Th nks Gena Terry McDonald
Gena – I remember ths smog days in California and believe this is a good rule for Sacramento and all of California. The fines should help enforce the rule.
Can I burn my CLEAN JAVA LOGS THAT ARE MADE FROM COFFEE GROUNDS?
Katherine,
You stumped me! I had never heard of these logs. Checked them out and they appear by all written material to be “green.”
However, to be on the safe side I would definitely check with the spare the air district and ask them specifically at sparetheair@sbcglobal.net or call 916.874.4888
Thanks for keeping me on my toes and for your question.
Terry, always a good idea to find ways to help protect what we have and the way we live.
Paula, from what I understand no fines will be issued this year…looks like the public is being given warnings for the first year.
This law is ridiculous. The leading cause of polluants in Sacramento is not from buring firewood. It’s from vehicle emmisions from all these large SUV’s and the traffic congestion in the area. Why don’t people driving SUV’s have to take any responsibility for the pollution? Depending on neighbors to rat out other neighbors isn’t going to be pretty. I, as many others, will continue to burn fire wood in our home, when we please. The fine’s are going to deter people who strongly oppose this stupid law.
Betty, you make a very good point. vehicles contribute an enormous amount of pollution.
This kills me…as someone who BARELY makes it each month, I can light a fire to heat my small home, when I see Sac County employees on the news, with binoculars, looking for “offenders”, I have to wonder several things:
A> how much in mileage, overtime, etc. am I paying this county employee
B> is this really the best use of limited funds?
AARR,
It is my understanding that if burning a fire is your only source of heat that you are exempt from fines.
My guess with the deficit we have in our State, you will see less employees driving around checking on people.
I live on 5 acres and have always bought cords of wood for the winter. Not all parts of the county should have to be included. Keep it within the populated areas. It seems that every time I look it’s a no burn day. I’m very upset about this and feel it more goverment control over our lives.
Randy,
You may be exempt if wood burning is your only source of heat.
I thought the “right-wing” was the Orwellian threat that we had to watch for. Wait until you get up one morning to go to work and a group of “concerned citizens” tells you that you can no longer drive your car because it doesn’t comply. Light a cigar on your deck while enjoying a glass of wine or cocktail after work or on the weekend? They’ll have your neighbors ratting you out as a “polluter”.
We managed to burn every winter for decades with minimal effect on air quality in Sacramento and the surrounding areas. The worst pollution problems have always been during the summer months. Everyone wants clean air, myself included. For the government to step in to your home and tell you what you can and can not do to heat it is over the line; it’s what my friends and I warned ourselves about in the 60s. It appears we were correct, but wrong about which political party would be the threat.
Charlie,
I hear you. It does seem as though government is stepping into our homes.
This is an attempt to try and diminish some of the pollution that we put into the atmosphere with exceptions of course for those who use their fireplaces to heat their homes.
Did you happen to ever see the Smothers Brothers do their take on all the “DON’T”s” years ago?
Betty Johnson, you are a moron.
Please do some research before you open your mouth and make everyone around you dumber.
Wood burning fireplaces account for almost 50% of the pollution in the Sacramento valley area during the winter months, here is a link from the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District if you would like to read some facts: http://www.sparetheair.com/publications/FAQ_2008.pdf
Also, there are far more polluting things then the dreaded SUV’s you mention such as over the road trucks, and the transport ships coming in and out of our ports.
Please work harder to educate yourself, even think about what happens to the batteries in the Prius I am sure you drive when they need to be reaplaced, or what pouloution was created when they were made.
Just for the record, I think the law is stupid as well.
Betty,
You are very passionate about air pollution and that’s a good thing.
Yes, there are MANY ways to help with decreasing pollution.
Sounds as though you should be pro-active and help with solutions to this problem while helping others to reach a solution.
Sorry you feel that I made anyone dumber however, I am simply passing on what has been voted on and approved by our great state.
May we all become more aware and do what each of us can to help solve this problem.
“Burning manufactured logs is not recommended.” does this mean I am subject to being fined on no burn days if I use say a Duraflame log in my fireplace? I’m having a hard time on this website or on other ones exactly what I can and can’t burn. Also, I have yet to find a calendar to specify on which days I can burn and which ones I can’t.
Ryan,
It is confusing. But, before you burn you might want to call (1-877-662-8765) and find out if you can burn or not. I don’t regulate it so you need to speak to those who are in charge to make sure that you are not fined.
Channel 3 posts on their website whether or not there is a Don’t Burn day so that’s another place to check.
There is also a web site at http://www.AirQuality.org or http://www.SpareTheAir.com where you can find information about burning.
Hope that helps you.
Even if you have an exemption you may not burn on Mandatory no burn days. All I have in my home is a fireplace w/ an insert to produce heat, its my only heat source. I have an exemption however on mandatory no burn days (stage 2) my three year old and I are freezing cold! This law is awful. There should be a full exemption for some people.
Barbara, it is my understanding that if your only source of heat is from burning wood that you are indeed exempt.
is this true or not on the exeption i only have a wood stove for heat
If you only have a wood stove for heat I believe you are exempt from what I understand.
Does this apply to bbq’s?
i don’t think it does.
I don’t think so, Nathan but you might want to call the County manager’s office in the County you live in.