Burning Wood Requires Air Check
Southern California residents are now required to check the air quality before they burn wood in a home fireplace — or risk violating regulations that went into effect this week. Fines for repeat offenders can be as high as $500.
As part of the Healthy Hearths™ initiative, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) is asking residents to participate in its “Check Before You Burn” program to help improve wintertime air quality by not burning wood in their fireplaces when unhealthful air quality is forecast.
Under the program, AQMD will issue a 24-hour no-burn advisory for residential fireplaces and wood stoves — from November 1st through the end of February 2012.
AQMD is the air pollution control agency for all of Orange County and the urban portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties — the smoggiest region of the United States.
For more information, exemptions, or to sign up for AQMD email notifications, go to www.AQMD.gov. Call 866-966-3293 for “Check Before You Burn” information if you
don’t have internet access.