A compendium of news and commentary about wood burning collected (mostly) from around North America. If you see a relevant item that doesn't appear here, please post it in the comments section below.

Draft bylaw ‘leaves questions unanswered’
The Draft by-law to regulate the destruction or injury of trees in woodlands has been revised by Dufferin’s Museum and Archives and Heritage Lands Board committees and the legal firm of Cassels Brock and Blackwell LLP. This latest version leaves many questions unanswered. A landowner may harvest trees without a permit if they are for personal use but must have a permit if they are sold.

It is difficult to understand why personal use is allowed while sales are not. Once a tree is cut or as the province likes to call destroyed or injured, it makes absolutely no difference to the remaining woodlot by whom the saw logs or firewood is used. This distinction, which discriminates against people who do not burn firewood, should be removed. Few landowners, especially those of older ages, utilize wood heating.

Protesters decry Fairbanks borough plan to fine chimney smoke polluters
An air pollution control plan by the Borough Mayor drew harsh criticism from a rowdy crowd of at least 100 people packed into the Borough Assembly chambers Thursday.

Even so, critics of the 16-page plan testified to the assembly, invoking God, freedom and the U.S. Constitution. Some mocked Borough Mayor Luke Hopkins. About a dozen people stood outside picketing. No one testified in favor of curtailing air pollution.

“I would be happy to breathe dirty air and let someone be warm,” Lovette Marchbanks told the assembly.

Why isn't wood fireplace burning banned in major cities? Isn't this an archaic method of heating?
We all know it is devastating to the air we breath. Why not just ban it for good? I live in an area that the air gets trapped and the pollution level skyrockets because of this. Please, no stupid angry full of attitude responses. I really want serious answers on what could possibly be done about this.

Southeastern Connecticut farmers vow to fight outdoor furnace curbs
New London County farmers are calling for their statewide trade association to fight against a state Senate bill that threatens the use of outdoor wood-burning furnaces. The bill contains an exemption for farmers, but the New London branch is still opposed.

Widespread problems caused by a still-sour economy are animating the farmers, Budney said. “This will cause hardship for a ton of people in Connecticut,” said Budney, who does not own an outdoor furnace. Farmers empathize with the sufferers but say moves toward widespread banning would be environmentally, financially and culturally devastating to rural New Englanders steeped in a wood-based lifestyle.

The smoke police Bay Area air quality inspectors on the alert
Now, whenever particulate concentrations are predicted to exceed EPA standards from November through February, the Air District issues alerts banning the use of fireplaces and woodstoves unless wood is a household's only source of heat. "Spare the Air," it's called. Winer's duty, in part, is enforcement.

Many inspectors, in fact, spend much of their time monitoring chimneys in two baseline communities to gauge how many people kindle fires under various conditions. Sometimes, their studies involve pointing an expensive infrared camera out the window of an unmarked Toyota Prius while coasting down a nighttime street at 8 mph.

"We control for weekends," Winer explains. "We control for temperature, control for holidays."