Editor:
Last week’s paper contained a “Kick” from a Roberts Creek resident bothered by their neighbour’s wood smoke. It’s not easy to approach someone whose burning habits are causing you difficulties. That’s why the Sunshine Coast Clean Air Society has an anonymous Neighbourly Notification Program.
Just send an email to [email protected] including the address, with postal code and the burner’s name, if possible. Tell us what type of burning is causing the issue and we will send them educational material that includes the following:
According to the provincial regulation, “seasoned” means the wood or wood products contain not more than 20 per cent moisture by weight. Aside from a small amount of paper or cardboard used only for the purpose of starting a fire, anything not meeting the definition of solid fuel in the regulation is not legal to burn.
Specific examples of prohibited materials include: garbage, plastics, treated or painted wood, demolition debris, rubber and unseasoned wood products.
The most polluting phase of a fire’s cycle is on startup when the chimney is cold. By building an “upside down fire,” the flue heats more quickly to get the draft started. With the larger wood pieces on the bottom, it is also more stable and less likely to collapse and smother itself like a traditional set up.
Wood burns best in cycles and should be flaming until reduced to charcoal. Allowing the fire to smoulder creates a lot of smoke and creosote. The damper control should be open as wide as possible on startup and only minimally reduced once the fire is going. Please, do not choke it down overnight!
A sum of $400 is available for anyone converting from wood burning. There is an additional $250 for residents of the District of Sechelt installing a heat pump.
Nara Brenchley, Gibsons
