Before using your fireplace or wood burning device, be sure to check the daily status of No Burn Days. Under the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District’s (AQMD) Check Before You Burn Law, from November 1 through February 28, residents and businesses in Sacramento County and the cities of Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, Isleton, Rancho Cordova, and Sacramento must follow No Burn Days.
No Burn days are called when weather conditions trap wood smoke near the ground. To protect public health and achieve federal air quality standards, it’s illegal to burn wood, pellets, manufactured logs or any other solid fuel when fine particle pollution (PM2.5) is forecast to be high. This applies to indoor or outdoor fireplaces, wood stoves, fire pits and chimineas.
Six ways to find out if you can or cannot burn on any day, November – February:
- Call 1-877-NO-BURN-5 (1-877-662-8765)
- Follow on Twitter @AQMD
- Check the daily status online at Air Quality
- Download the free Sacramento Region Air Quality app
- Sign up to get a daily Air Alert email – input your Sacramento County zip code and check the “Daily Air Quality Forecast” box
- Read The Sacramento Bee’s weather page
Sac Metro AQMD enforces No Burn days. Enforcement is through sightings of visible smoke by enforcement staff. Inspectors respond to complaints and conduct surveillance. Typically, a photo is taken to document visible smoke and a notice of penalty, then a violation letter is mailed to the address where the violation was observed. First time violations will result in a $50 fine, or you may take and pass a wood smoke awareness exam. Fines for subsequent violations are higher. To report a complaint or a suspected violation, call Sac Metro AQMD at 1-800-880-9025.
For more information, visit the Sac Metro AQMD.