From November through February, the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District's law, Check Before You Burn, restricts or prohibits burning when fine particle pollution (PM2.5) is forecast to be high. The Check Before You Burn law applies to residents and businesses in Sacramento County and the cities of Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, Isleton, Rancho Cordova and Sacramento.
Wood burning during the winter causes almost 50 percent of the PM2.5 air pollution in Sacramento County. The purpose of Check Before You Burn is to reduce the harmful emissions from wood and other solid fuel burning to protect public health and achieve federal air quality standards. Everyone breathes unhealthy air when weather conditions trap pollution close to the ground.
Both residents and businesses must comply with the law. Check Before You Burn to see if it is legal to burn wood, pellets, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel such as charcoal or peat in an indoor or outdoor fireplace, wood stove, pellet stove, fire pit or chiminea.
For more information on Sacramento County's Check Before You Burn program and how to protect your health from wood smoke, download the free Sacramento Region Air Quality app from your device's app store or visit the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District website.