Check Before You Burn in Riverside County

1/20/2020 (Permalink)

The Check Before You Burn" initiative was created to reduce pollution and protect public health from the harmful emissions of wood burning.

During late fall and early winter, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) asks residents to participate in its "Check Before You Burn" program by not burning wood in fireplaces when unhealthful air quality is forecast. Under the program -- intended to help improve wintertime air quality --South Coast AQMD may issue mandatory no-burn alerts from November 1 through the end of February.

No-burn alerts are issued for 24-hour periods for residential wood-burning fireplaces, backyard fire pits and wood stoves when emissions and stagnant weather conditions raise fine particulate pollution to unhealthy levels. Alerts are typically issued for the entire South Coast Air Basin, which encompasses all of Orange County and the non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Why do we need "Check Before You Burn"

The Check Before You Burn" initiative was created to reduce pollution and protect public health from the harmful emissions of wood burning. Despite steady progress toward improved air quality, Southern California still has the worst pollution in the country. 

Reduce Pollution Caused by Wood Burning

Since November 1, 2011, wood burning in the South Coast Air Basin has been prohibited every year from November 1 through the end of February when no-burn alerts are issued due to forecasts of unhealthy levels

There are plenty of wood-burning alternatives and resources to help you switch to cleaner-burning gas log sets.

Reduce Health Risks Caused by Wood Burning

Pollution from wood smoke contains very small particles.  These particles are the width of a human hair!  Because it’s so small, these particles can lodge deep in the lungs and cause a variety of respiratory health problems.

Long-term exposure can lead to reduced lung function and chronic bronchitis. In some cases, prolonged exposure to this harmful substance may even lead to premature death. Short-term exposure can make existing respiratory conditions such as asthma or lung disease worse. It may also increase the risk of respiratory infections, and those with heart disease could even be at risk for heart attacks or arrhythmia. Young children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to the effects.

How to Reduce Air Pollution from Wood Burning

A wood-burning fireplace can cause pollution and be harmful to your lungs. But with some small changes, you can make a big difference. Here are some tips to help reduce pollution from your wood-burning fireplace:

• Choose not to burn when air quality is already poor. Check the South Coast AQMD Air Quality Index in your local newspaper or visit www.aqmd.gov to monitor when the air quality is poor to avoid burning wood on these days. Pay close attention during wood-burning season - November to February - to ensure you are not burning wood when a mandatory no-burn alert has been issued for your area.  Save energy and reduce pollution during these months by wearing a sweater on chilly nights.

• Reduce your need for fuel. Make your home more energy-efficient by installing ceiling insulation, and by weather stripping or caulking windows and doors. Close off unused rooms if you don’t have central heating.

• Have your chimney professionally cleaned. Keep your chimney swept and ash area clean to improve air flow and reduce emissions. Chimneys should be professionally cleaned periodically to prevent creosote buildup and reduce the potential for chimney fires. Store wood outdoors, off the ground and with the top covered.

• If you do burn wood, start fires with softwood kindling such as pine or fir. Always burn “seasoned” or dry wood. These woods are generally low in density, ignite easily, burn fast and hot and will heat the firebox and flue quickly. Hardwoods such as oak can take longer to ignite, but they burn slower and produce less smoke. Remember to use smaller fires in mild weather.

• Never burn garbage and other materials. It can cause toxic smoke that can be extremely harmful to you and your neighbors.

• Watch chimney for smoke. Properly burning fires should give off only a wisp of white steam. The darker and thicker the smoke, the more pollution the fire emits, and the more fuel it wastes.

• Beware of overnight heating. Do not leave open fires unattended or let them burn overnight. This can lead to a back draft of smoke in your home, causing hazardous indoor air pollution. Build a small, hot fire and let it burn out completely, closing the damper when finished.

• For heating, switch to a cleaner wood-burning alternative. An EPA-certified wood stove emits up to 70 percent less particulate emissions and uses 30 percent less fuel.

• Replace your wood-burning fireplace with a natural-gas insert. The particle pollution from one wood stove is equivalent to that emitted by 3,000 gas furnaces producing the same amount of heat per unit.

• Remember... If you can smell smoke, you are breathing smoke!

How do I know if a no-burn alert has been issued?

Residents can obtain no-burn alert information by: 

• Signing up for South Coast AQMD Air Alerts sent via e-mail;
• Using South Coast AQMD’s interactive residential no-burn alert map by entering an address or ZIP code in the search area; or
• Calling 866-966-3293 for Check Before You Burn information.

Information from our friends at South Coast  AQMD

Our first responders are amazing hard-working men and women and they do their very best to provide awareness and prevention. First responders work hard to prepare everyday citizens to make our emergencies a little more manageable.

Consider SERVPRO as your second first responder. We do our best to provide awareness and prevention to all who meet us. We don’t want you to have a disaster or damage. No one wants their lives, or homes to be turned upside down. That is why we do our best to provide you with the knowledge and tools to prevent them.

Be sure to thank a first responder today and let them know how much their hard work is appreciated. Don't forget to mind "Check Before You Burn" regulations for the safety of you, your neighbors, and our first responders.