(Press Release) The 2011-12 season’s first fireplace and wood stove prohibition for Fresno County has been issued for Wednesday, November 9th. A wood-burning prohibition has also been declared for Kings County.
The daylong, mandatory curtailment because of poor air quality will be in place from midnight Tuesday, Nov. 8, through midnight Wed., Nov. 9. The curtailment applies to burning wood, pellets and manufactured fire logs, as well as outdoor fire pits and chimineas.
Check Before You Burn runs each winter from November through February and reduces wintertime particulate pollution by restricting the use of wood-burning devices when air quality is poor. Forecasts are issued by county.
Wood burning pumps dangerous particulate matter into Valley skies. It has been shown to cause lung infections and exacerbate respiratory and cardiac illness.
There are two levels of wood-burning forecast: “Wood Burning Prohibited” or “Please Burn Cleanly.” When a prohibition is declared, burning any solid fuel in a residential fireplace or wood-burning device is not permitted. There are two exceptions, however:
· If the residence does not have access to natural gas service, even if propane is used, or
· If burning solid fuel is the sole source of heat for the residence.
Prohibition violations are subject to fines.
Daily wood-burning forecasts are issued at 4:30 p.m. each afternoon and available at http://www.valleyair.org/aqinfo/WoodBurnpage.htm, by calling 1-800 SMOG INFO (766-4463) or by subscribing to the Air District’s daily air quality forecast at http://www.valleyair.org/lists/list.htm.
TXT 24
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