Check Before You Burn FAQ
What is a no-burn advisory?
The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) will issue a 24-hour
no-burn advisory for residential fireplaces and wood stoves when stagnant
weather raises fine particulate pollution to unhealthy levels. Advisories will
be issued for specific areas and only during winter months (November 1 through
the last day of February). During a no-burn advisory, AQMD asks that residents
in the no-burn areas refrain from all indoor and outdoor wood burning.
The program is mandatory starting November 1, 2011 under the provisions of Rule
445 – Wood-Burning Devices.
How do I know if a no-burn advisory has been issued?
Residents can obtain no-burn advisory information by:
- Using AQMD’s interactive
residential no-burn advisory
map by entering an address or ZIP code in the search area;
- Signing up for AQMD Air Alerts sent via
e-mail; or
- Calling (866) 966-3293 for Check Before
You Burn information.
How long will a no-burn advisory last?
A no-burn advisory is in effect
for the 24-hour period from midnight on the day it is issued until midnight
the following day.
Can I be notified when a no-burn advisory
is issued in my area?
Yes. Anyone can sign up to
receive e-mail
notification when a no-burn advisory has been issued for a specific
area. To sign up for e-mail
notifications you will need to provide your name, ZIP code and e-mail
address
Is it okay to use manufactured/wax logs or a pellet-fueled device
during a no-burn advisory?
No. During a no-burn advisory, residents should refrain from
all solid-fuel burning, including manufactured
wax/sawdust logs, pellet fuels, corn, coal, etc.
What about gas-log sets and other alternatives to wood burning?
A gaseous-fueled (natural gas or propane) device generates very small amounts
of particulate matter compared to a wood-burning device and therefore is not
subject to the residential no-burn advisory.
Visit here for information on financial
assistance to convert a wood-burning fireplace or stove to a dedicated gaseous-fueled
device. Incentive funds, when available, are on a first-come, first-served basis
and may end at any time.
Are there exemptions to the mandatory no-burn days?
Yes but these exemptions, summarized below, are very limited and only apply
under specific conditions. These exemptions under Rule 445 include:
-
Households above an elevation of 3,000 feet;
-
Wood-burning devices that are a household’s sole source of heat;
-
Low income households;
-
Properties where there is no existing infrastructure for natural gas service within 150
feet of the property line; and
-
Ceremonial fires exempted under Rule 444 - Open Burning.
Refer to paragraphs (f)(1) through (6) of AQMD Rule 445 for a complete
description by clicking
here (PDF, 22KB).
|
