Notice of Public Meetings

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District will conduct a series of public meetings to inform residents and affected business owners about the proposed Regulation 6, Rule 3: Wood-Burning Devices (Reg. 6-3).  Residents of the Bay Area are encouraged to attend and learn more about the rule, discuss how it would be implemented and how it might actually affect individuals.

New Proposed Regulation 6	Please download Acrobat Reader if you cannot view this document: Adobe Acrobat Reader Download

Meetings Scheduled:

Date & Location	Address
April 14, 2008 - Redwood City Library	1044 Middlefield Rd, Redwood City
April 15, 2008 - Napa County Library	500 Coombs Street, Napa
April 17, 2008 - Steele Lane Community Center	415 Steele Lane, Santa Rosa
April 21, 2008 - JKF Library	505 Santa Clara Street, Vallejo
April 23,2008 - Concord Senior Center	2727 Parkside Circle, Concord
April 24, 2008 - LIvermore Community Center	4444 East Ave, Livermore
April 28, 2008 - Hill Community Room	1560 Hill Rd, Novato
April 29, 2008 - San Jose Community Room	200 East Santa Clara St, San Jose
April 30, 2008  - Metropolitan Transportation Commission	101 8th St, Oakland

Air Pollution from Wood-Burning Fireplaces

Did you know that wood-burning smoke produces air polluting particles both indoors and outdoors, such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide? Indoor air pollution levels are higher than outdoor levels and the highest concentrations of pollutants usually occur during the winter months. Even if you do not burn wood or have a wood-burning fireplace, smoke from your neighbor's fireplace can enter your home and affect your indoor air quality.

To address the issue, the Fremont City Council adopted a Wood-Burning Fireplace Ordinance on July 23, 2002. See below for more information.

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Wood-Burning Fireplace Ordinance

The City of Fremont's ordinance requires installation of either a wood heater or fireplace insert certified by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or a pellet-fueled wood heater. The ordinance applies to new housing construction, and additions, replacements or remodels of existing wood-burning fireplaces. In addition, if the remodel occurs near an existing wood-burning fireplace, that fireplace may have to be replaced with a certified unit. Historic buildings and gas-only fireplaces are not affected by the ordinance. 

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Tips To Reduce Fireplace Air Pollution

Do

• Avoid burning wood on "Spare the Air" days.
• Consider installing an EPA-certified wood heater, fireplace insert or convert to a gas-only fireplace that reduces pollutants.
• If you have a wood-burning fireplace, try using wood alternatives, such as manufactured fire logs, densified logs and cordwood. (Do not use fire logs in wood stoves, only in fireplaces).
• Maintain your chimney often to remove build-up of pollutants, to locate leaks and structural damage, and to repair mechanisms that do not work.
• Build small hot fires, and then let the fire burn out completely.
• Make sure your home is insulated. Weather-strip and caulk all around windows and doors.

Do not burn any of the following materials in your fireplace or wood stove:

• Garbage
• Treated wood
• Plastics
• Rubber products
• Coal
• Particle board
• Salt water driftwood
• Painted wood surfaces
• Yard waste

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For a free copy of the Wood-Burning Handbook, contact the Bay Area Air Quality Management District at 1-800-HELP-AIR (435-7247).