Controlled burns

The Butte County Air Quality Management District’s “Check Before You Light” program starts today (Nov. 1), which means county residents are asked to voluntarily refrain from using their wood stoves and fireplaces on poor air quality days. In Chico the no-burn days are mandatory with the following exceptions: The burning device is a U.S. EPA Phase II certified wood or pellet stove; the device is the sole source of interior heat; electrical power is down due to a temporary power outage; or the household has a waiver from the restrictions due to economic hardship.

For more information on the city’s program go to www.ci.chico.ca.us or call 896-7800. Visit www.bcaqmd.org to check for no-burn days and sign up for email and twitter notifications of the advisories. Or call the burn hotline (so to speak) at 332-9409. The program ends Feb. 28.