Illegal recreational fires can cost you: The rules even Sacramento locals might not know
The rules surrounding legal recreational burning in Sacramento — bonfires, fireplaces and wood stoves — are tricky.
And not following them closely could cost you.
So before you pull out the blankets and gather around the fire, check the rules and regulations on recreational burning, according to Sacramento Air Quality Management District.
Here’s what you need to know about what type of wood to burn, when it’s legal to burn and who’s exempt, plus what happens if you don’t follow the law:
When it’s illegal to burn
Recreational fires are illegal on mandatory curtailment days, except for those who have an exemption or waiver.
Mandatory curtailment applies to anyone operating a wood-burning device or lighting a fire in Sacramento County from November to February each year.
Here are the definitions of mandatory curtailment day statuses:
Stage one: You are not allowed to burn unless you’re exempt. It is illegal to burn unless you’re using an EPA-certified fireplace insert, stove, pellet stove without it producing visible smoke.
Stage two: All burning is prohibited. It is illegal to burn any solid fuel, including wood, manufactured fire logs and pellets in any device.
Burning is discouraged: The Sac Metro Air Districts ask you to voluntarily not burn.
No restrictions: There are no restrictions on recreational burning.
When it’s legal to burn
To check the day’s burning status before you start your fire, visit the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District burn page.
What can’t be burned
Burning garbage and non-organic waste to dispose of it is considered open burning, not recreational burning — and is illegal in Sacramento County. Burning yard waste is prohibited in most of Sacramento, including all cities within county boundaries.
Burning garbage, including manufactured or treated wood, produces toxic smoke.
To burn natural vegetation from your home, which is known as open burning or rural yard burning, you need a burn permit from your local department.
Check where burning dry natural vegetation from your home is allowed in Sacramento. To check when it’s legal to burn, call the burn status line at 279-972-2876.
Penalties and violations
Violations, including those that create a public nuisance, can result in fines determined by the Sac Metro Air District Mutual Settlement Program.
First-time violators will be issued a notice of penalty, which is $50. An alternative to paying the penalty is passing the Wood Smoke Awareness Training Exam.
Second-time violators will be issued a notice of violation and subsequent violators will be subject to an increased penalty. There is a review process before any additional enforcement is used.
The maximum civil penalties for violations range from $5,000 to $1,000,000 per day of violation, depending on the nature and severity of the violation, according to the air quality violations page.
To report an illegal outdoor fire, call Sac Metro Air District at 1-800-880-9025 or call 9-1-1 if the fire presents a safety hazard.
Who is exempt?
Individuals with financial hardship or those living in homes where wood-burning devices are the only source of heat may be considered for an exemption from the Sac Metro District Rule 421.
Just fill out an exemption request online and return the form in the mail.
If you have any questions about qualifying or questions about how to request an exemption, contact 279-207-1122 (extension 11) or email burning@airquality.org.
Wood burning appliances
In Sacramento County, wood burning in fireplaces and wood stoves creates 50% of wintertime air pollution and it’s a serious health threat, according the fireplace information page.
The Sac Metro Air District regulates the type of wood burning appliances — fireplaces, wood stoves and pellet stoves — that can be installed in Sacramento County.
The following wood burning appliances are allowed:
- U.S EPA Phase II Certified wood burning heaters
- Pellet-fueled wood burning heaters
- Masonry heaters
Here a few wood burning alternative appliances, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency:
Gas stoves
Gas stoves are designed to burn either natural gas or propane, which means they produce little pollution, require little maintenance and can be installed almost anywhere in the home.
Gas stoves can be vented through an existing chimney or directly vented through the wall behind the stove.
Decorative fireplace gas logs
Decorative fireplace logs can be installed in an existing fireplace. Although they don’t produce a significant amount of heat, they provide an alternative to burning wood.
And because they burn either natural gas or propane, they have low pollution emissions.
What type of wood to burn
Firewood should never come from the wood of a recently cut-down tree because the material is too moist and will produce excessive smoke when it’s burned.
Instead, use dry firewood that has been properly seasoned.
Seasoned firewood is wood that has been thoroughly dried for a proper amount of time. It can be wood that has been cut down on your property, stored in a dried place and allowed to dry for a minimum of six months.
If you need firewood sooner than six months, try kiln-dried firewood, which dries out in around 75 minutes, according to Premier Firewood Company.
When dried in a kiln, which is a type of oven, the internal temperature of the wood is maintained between 140 degrees to 160 degrees, reducing the amount of moisture to around 10% to 20%.
The quick drying process also kills bugs and fungus and since the wood dries so fast, mold and mildew is eliminated too. As a result, kiln dried firewood is good for the environment.
Where to buy seasoned firewood
Here are a few places to buy seasoned and kiln dried firewood in Sacramento, when burning is allowed:
Address: 8385 Jackson Rd.
Contact: 916-381-3143
Contact: 916-922-4453
Address: 6045 Midway St.
Contact: 916-974-4336
Address: 1815 I St.
Contact: 916-446-5246
This story was originally published December 17, 2021 at 10:56 AM.