The Great Summer Smokeout
As the weather gets warm and we all begin to go outside to enjoy our yards more it’s important to take our neighbors enjoyment of their yard, and home, into account. Please, if you have a wood burning firepit make sure that it is not filling your neighbors house with smoke. We would all like to enjoy the fresh summer breeze in the evening and while those enjoying the at home version of a campfire can move out of the way if the smoke blows toward them, their neighbor cannot move their house. Having to close all of the windows on a hot night is just plain miserable.
So, in short…we DO want to smell that amazing piece of meat on your grill (drool), we DO NOT want to have our houses filled with smoke so you can make a s’more. Not only did you not invite us, but some people with asthma, compromised immune systems, heart conditions and other health issues are put at serious risk if they breathe wood smoke. We really, really want your adorable kids to experience the joys of the melty chocolate marshmallow wonders, but we also want to breathe, and live longer.
In conclusion…breathing fresh air, good. Choking on smoke, bad.
Also, there is a Father’s Day contest to win a Romanstack Firepit down at Duvall Hardware and Garden…you are all forbidden to enter. :)
Some bullet points pulled together from all documentation linked below:
It is ALWAYS illegal to smoke out your neighbor. Everyone has a right to breathe clean air. If smoke from your fire is affecting your neighbors, it is considered a nuisance and subject to enforcement action [Regulation 1, Section 9.11 (PDF)].
It is illegal to have any recreational fire during a burn ban put into place due to air quality
Smoke from burning leaves and wood may seem harmless, but it’s as dangerous as cigarette smoke. Burning garbage is even worse, and always illegal.
Only seasoned firewood (1 year or more) is legal to burn.
Helpful links including fireplace/wood burning stove rules etc.
Wood Buring and the Law This primarily deals with fireplace and woodburning stoves
Wood Smoke, Your Health and Your Wallet