People who live in Kings County and the Valley portion of Kern County will need to use extra blankets or electric heaters if they're chilly on Tuesday, November 1, because the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has issued its first fireplace and wood stove ban of the season.
Tuesday is also the first day of the Check Before You Burn season.
Officials have issued the ban because of poor air quality. It will be in place from midnight Monday (October 31) through midnight Tuesday (November 1).
The ban also applies to burning wood, pellets and manufactured fire logs.
Check Before You Burn runs each winter from November through February and reduces wintertime pollution by restricting the use of wood-burning devices when air quality is poor. Forecasts are issued by county.
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 each afternoon and available by clicking here. You can also call 1-800 SMOG INFO (766-4463) for more information.
