Rx
Wood Burning Smoke
DID YOU KNOW? Smoke created by burning wood contains gases and particles that can harm your health when you breathe them.
Action Plan
- Burning wood can be an effective way to heat our homes or an important part of a ceremonial or recreational experience.
- Burning wet wood is less efficient than burning dry wood. Wet wood also causes more air pollution indoors.
- Children spending lots of time indoors, and people with asthma and other lung problems, face more health risks from wood smoke.
- There are steps you can take to reduce smoke exposure when burning wood:
- Burn only dry, seasoned wood that has been split and aged for at least 6 months.
- Use a wood moisture meter to make sure wood is dry enough to burn (less than 20% moisture).
- Store wood off the ground in a dry, covered area such as a woodshed.
- Don’t allow fires to smolder.
- Never burn trash, plastic, particle board, pressure-treated wood, or other household items and building materials.
- Consider installing an EPA-certified wood burning stove.
- Have chimneys inspected every year and cleaned and repaired when recommended.
- Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and keep a fire extinguisher handy.
Resources
- Burning wood can be an effective way to heat our homes or an important part of a ceremonial or recreational experience.
- Burning wet wood is less efficient than burning dry wood. Wet wood also causes more air pollution indoors.
- Children spending lots of time indoors, and people with asthma and other lung problems, face more health risks from wood smoke.
- There are steps you can take to reduce smoke exposure when burning wood:
- Burn only dry, seasoned wood that has been split and aged for at least 6 months.
- Use a wood moisture meter to make sure wood is dry enough to burn (less than 20% moisture).
- Store wood off the ground in a dry, covered area such as a woodshed.
- Don’t allow fires to smolder.
- Never burn trash, plastic, particle board, pressure-treated wood, or other household items and building materials.
- Consider installing an EPA-certified wood burning stove.
- Have chimneys inspected every year and cleaned and repaired when recommended.
- Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and keep a fire extinguisher handy.