Sacramento air quality district revives burn rules

Published: Monday, Nov. 2, 2009 - 8:23 am

The effort to keep Sacramento air clean by limiting fireplace smoke on certain days is now in effect.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District's "Check Before You Burn" program began Sunday and continues through Feb. 28.
The air district restricts or prohibits wood burning in the county when particulate matter pollution is forecast to be unhealthy. Today the air quality district asks residents to voluntarily not burn.
The "Check Before You Burn" program covers unincorporated areas of the county and the cities of Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, Isleton, Rancho Cordova and Sacramento.
There are four stages in the program: all burning prohibited, no burn unless exempt, burning discouraged and burn cleanly.
First time violations result in a $50 fine or violators must pass a wood smoke awareness course.

To check before burning wood in fireplaces, wood stoves and fire pits, the air quality district suggests residents call 1-877-662-8765, visit www.airquality.org or check the back page of The Bee's Our Region section