San Joaquin Valley – Air Quality Control – Burn Bans and Regulations

Resources

Burn Wise, Information and Ways to Burn Wisely

Alliance for Green Heat. Solutions and Technology for Efficient Burning. Clean Renewable and Local

Clean Air World, Directory of Governmental Air Agencies

Chimney Safety Institute of America. Locate a CSIA certified Chimney Sweep.

San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. Check Before you Burn Status.

Current Burn Status

	The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is made up of eight counties in California's Central Valley: San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin portion of Kern. The Check Before You Burn program is in effect from the first day of November to the last day of February.

Wood burning prohibited
Air quality is forecast to deteriorate. Burning any solid fuel – including wood, pellets and manufactured wood – is prohibited from midnight to midnight. Violations can result in fines.

Wood Burning Prohibited Symbol

Please Burn Cleanly
To keep air pollution levels low, if you must burn, please burn cleanly. This includes using an EPA Phase II-certified wood-burning device and burning dry, seasoned wood. More clean-burning tips:

Never burn trash, magazines, newspapers, plastics or other materials not designed to burn in fireplaces or stoves. This is illegal and hazardous.
For an ambiance fire in an open fireplace, a manufactured firelog may be a cleaner alternative to wood.

Exemptions to wood-burning prohibitions: You may use your wood-burning fireplace or device on a prohibited day if:

You live in an area where there is no natural-gas service, or
If wood-burning is your only source of heat.

Health Air Living, Valley Air Quality Toolbox

Healthy Air Living is a comprehensive outreach initiative that aims to improve the health and quality of life of all Valley residents through strategies that clean up our air. Click here to learn more.