1st wood-burning ban posted for Tulare County

The first ban on indoor wood burning in Tulare County was announced Wednesday afternoon by Valley air-quality officials.

Local residents were warned by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District not to burn solid fuels in fireplaces and wood-burning stoves from midnight Wednesday through midnight Thursday.

The reason: Deteriorating air quality in the region.

The prohibition also includes Kern, Kings and Fresno counties. It's the first such ban this season in Tulare, Kings and Kern counties, and the second in Fresno County. It applies to burning wood, pellets and manufactured fire logs, and also to outdoor devices such as chimneys and fire pits.

Burning in fireplaces and in wood-burning stoves is closely monitored by the air district beginning each Nov. 1. The monitoring continues through the end of February.

Air-quality forecasts are issued each day, by county, for the eight counties in the San Joaquin Valley air basin. Those forecasts include whether or not fireplaces and wood stoves may be used.

When a ban on burning is announced, area resident may not legally burn any solid fuel in a residential fireplace or wood-burning device. There are only two exceptions: if the residence does not have access to natural gas service, even if propane is available; or if burning solid fuel is the sole source of heat for the residence.

A previous exemption for those living above 3,000 feet was removed this season. However, many mountain communities do not have natural gas service, so residents in those areas may still be exempt from the prohibition on burning.

Those violating the wood-burning ban may be subject to fines, according to the air district.

-- Contact Glen Faison at 784-5000, Ext. 1043, or gfaison@portervillerecorder.com.