No wood smoke, please

Wood-burning restrictions are being enforced in Chico starting this month and will remain in effect through February.

The Butte County Air Quality Management District’s “Check Before You Light” program will restrict the use of wood stoves on no-burn advisory days, according to a city of Chico press release.

The ordinance, which the Chico City Council approved in August, includes several exemptions: If the device is a U.S. EPA Phase II-certified wood stove, pellet stove or the only source of interior heat; electrical power is not available during times of temporary service outages; or a household’s monthly income is 80 percent or less than the median income of the area, the restrictions do not apply.

Smoke from wood stoves is a major source of wintertime air pollution in Butte County. For more information on how to burn cleaner, and to check the no-burn status and health advisories, go online to www.bcaqmd.org. To obtain an exemption, call 896-7800.