News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

By Beverley J. Anderson, Air Quality Educator, Williams Lake Air Quality Roundtable

With the arrival of chillier weather, cozying up to a warm fire has its appeal. 

Those crackling fires, however, can lead to air pollution in your neighborhood. During colder months in fact, smoke from wood fires is a leading cause of neighborhood particulate matter pollution, one of the leading air pollution concerns in British Columbia. So as you enjoy your wood fire this season, practice these tips to minimize smoke, maximize heat output and do your part to keep air in your neighborhood healthy for all to breathe.

Watch for Smoke Signals

·        Get into the habit of glancing out at your chimney top every so often. Apart from the short period after lighting and refueling, a properly burning fire should give off only a thin wisp of white steam. If you see smoke, adjust your dampers or air inlets to let in more air. The darker the smoke, the more pollutants it contains and the more fuel is being wasted.

Don’t Burn Anything but Clean, Seasoned Wood 

·        NEVER burn wood that has been painted or chemically treated.

·        DO NOT BURN:  Household Garbage (diapers, plastic bags, etc.), Plastics, Rubber, Rags or Fabric made of synthetic materials, Particleboard, Plywood, Glossy Paper or Newsprint, Foil or Metallic-coated Gift Wrapping (i.e. Christmas wrapping – wrap in re-usable gift bags instead), Coloured Paper, Solvent or Paint, Oil, Coal or Charcoal, or Painted/Treated Wood.  And never start your fire with oil, gas, etc.

These items release toxic chemicals into the air that can be harmful to your health and damage your stove or fireplace.

Be Careful when Buying Wood Advertised as "Seasoned"

Look for: 

·        Dark colored, cracked ends, with cracks radiating from the center like bicycle spokes.

·        Light in weight, meaning there is little moisture left; hardwood logs will weigh more than softwood.

·        Sound - Hit two pieces together. Wet wood makes a dull "thud" sound. Dry wood rings with a resonant "crack," like a bat hitting a baseball.

·        Easily peeled or broken bark. No green should show under the bark.

·        Warning:  Kiln-Dried Lumber vaporizes too rapidly, causing creosote buildup. 

Build a Small, HOT Fire First 

·        Open Damper Wide - allow in maximum air to fuel the fire. And leave it and other air inlets open for 30 minutes.

·        Start Small and Hot - leave a thin layer of ash for insulation. Crumple a few sheets of newspaper and add some small pieces of kindling, then light. Add bigger kindling a few at a time as the fire grows.

·        Get it burning briskly to form a bed of hot coals. Now add 2 or 3 logs.

·        Position the next logs carefully - place logs close enough together to keep each other hot, but far apart enough to let sufficient air (oxygen) move between them.

 Maintain Your Fire Properly 

·        Make sure your fire is getting enough air.

This will ensure it burns hot and clean. A properly burning fire is hotter, produces less smoke and is more efficient. This means more warmth for less money and less impact to your health.

·        Don’t stuff too much wood inside the firebox.

Refuel more often with smaller loads with the air inlet open wide to keep the fire burning briskly.

·        Do Not Close the Damper or Air Inlets Too Tightly.

The fire will smoke from lack of air.

·        Let your fire go out at night!

It will cost only half as much to let your wood heater go out over night and run an electric heater in the morning for 2 hours, than to keep your wood heater alight for the night causing unnecessary smoke and pollution. 

Observe Air Quality Advisory’s 

·        When chillier temperatures begin so do air quality issues. Please observe Air Quality Advisory’s and do not burn unless wood is your only source of heat. Posted in local newspapers and at www.bcairquality.ca.

 Upgrade to an EPA/CSA Emissions Certified Wood Stove

·        Consider replacing your old inefficient woodstove with a new, high efficiency EPA/CSA emissions certified wood burning stove. A new stove using advanced technology will produce a warmer, more stable fire and reduce particulate emissions up to 90% when compared to older models.  It will also save you time and money as it uses 30% less fuel.

Local Regulations for Woodstoves

·        On February 9th, 2009, the City of Williams Lake passed a bylaw requiring that all new woodstoves must be inspected and must be EPA/CSA Emissions Certified.  Check your new wood heater (this includes outside boilers/furnaces) to make sure they have the EPA and CSA emissions certified sticker.  Presently, there are no outside boilers/furnaces that are Emissions Certified.  Contact the City of Williams Lake (250-392-1772).

For more information contact Beverley J. Anderson, Air Quality Educator with the Williams Lake Air Quality Roundtable, at 250-392-5997 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Informative Sites and resources:

·        Williams Lake Air Quality Roundtable at www.breatheasywilliamslake.org                                                                          

·        BC Air Quality site www.bcairquality.ca                                               

·        Environment Canada “Burn It Smart” at www.ec.gc.ca   

·        City of Williams Lake at www.williamslake.ca

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