Air quality authorities today banned the use of fireplaces, uncertified wood stoves and inserts in Clark County until a cold-air inversion loosens up.
During cold weather with little or no wind, wood smoke pollution can accumulate to unhealthy levels. Fine particles from smoke can reach deep into the lungs, triggering asthma attacks, breathing difficulties and worsening lung and heart problems.
Vancouver officially recorded an early-morning low of 10 degrees Wednesday.
The Stage 1 burn ban also includes a prohibition on all outdoor burning except for people who rely on wood for heat.
“We are not asking anyone to go without heat, but to use an alternative source of heat if possible until our air quality improves,” said Randy Peltier, operations manager for the Southwest Clean Air Agency in Vancouver.
Uncertified wood stoves are typically built before 1990 and lack a certification label on the back.
A Stage 2 ban would extend to all wood heating, although this, too, would not apply to homes with no other source of adequate heat.
The agency offered a set of tips to promote cleaner burning of wood:
n Only burn dry, seasoned wood and store it under cover. Be sure your firewood has been split and dried for at least one year.
n Never burn wet, painted, stained or treated wood, color newsprint, plastic, garbage, diapers or magazines. Burning these materials is illegal and may cause a chimney fire.
n Burn small, hot fires.
n Never allow a fire to smolder, which burns wood at a temperature too low for efficient combustion — resulting in more smoke in the air.
n Step outside and look at the plume from your chimney. You should see only heat waves. If you see smoke, your wood is not burning completely and you should increase the air supply by opening the damper.
