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Download Sacramento Region Air Quality App to Get Burn Status

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) – The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District’s annual wood burning law, Check Before You Burn, began Sunday, Nov. 1st. To protect public health, it is illegal to burn any solid fuel, including wood, pellets or manufactured fire logs when particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) pollution is forecast to be high.

This law applies to residents and businesses in Sacramento County and the cities of Folsom, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Galt, Isleton, Rancho Cordova, and Sacramento through February. You must Check Before You Burn to find out if burning is allowed in your indoor or outdoor fireplace, wood stove, fire pit or chimney.

New to this year’s Check Before You Burn season is the Sacramento Region Air Quality app. With this free app—which is available for Android, iOS, and Windows mobile devices—Sacramento County residents can check the daily burn status, obtain the daily air quality forecast, and get current conditions at monitoring sites in the region.

Wood smoke contains invisible particles that are small enough to enter the bloodstream. Breathing wood smoke increases the risk of asthma, heart attack, stroke, and many other health problems. It is especially harmful for children whose lungs are still developing, older adults, and anyone with a pre-existing heart or lung condition.

In addition to the mobile app, residents can get the daily burn status by calling (877) NO-BURN-5/(877) 662-8765). You can also follow on Twitter @AQMD; “like” Spare The Air Scooter on Facebook (www.facebook.com/scooterthesparetheairdog); or visit www.AirQuality.org or www.SpareTheAir.com. Sign up for daily Air Alert emails at www.SpareTheAir.com. Input your zip code and select the “Daily Air Quality Forecast” box. Read the Sacramento Bee’s weather page.

The law applies to all Sacramento residents and businesses with these few exceptions: In homes where wood burning is the sole source of heat; If a financial hardship waiver is approved and renewed each burn season by the Air Pollution Control Officer; and there is an exemption on Stage 1-No Burn days if you use an EPA certified fireplace insert or stove, or pellet stove, and they do not emit visible smoke.

To report a complaint, call (800) 880-9025. First time violations will result in a $50 fine or the violator can choose to complete and pass a wood smoke awareness course. For more information, visit www.airquality.org.

Source: Sacramento Metro Air Quality Management District