Posted on 03/01/2008 10:27:38 AM PST by NormsRevenge
Mention air pollution, and what comes to mind? Factories. Oil refineries. Auto tailpipes.
Now Bay Area smog regulators are trying to crack down on another source that they say is just as significant, even if beloved: home fireplaces.
Citing growing medical research that soot causes more severe health problems than was previously realized, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District is proposing a ban on all wood burning in fireplaces and wood stoves in the nine Bay Area counties during winter "Spare the Air" nights.
--snip--
If approved, fireplace police would enforce the rules, and neighbors would be encouraged to report neighbors.
"We understand a crackling fire is a long-held tradition of American family life," said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the air district, based in San Francisco.
"But traditions need to be changed when there is information showing that our health and our neighbors' health are impacted."
--snip--
Supporters compare wood smoke dangers to that of cigarette smoke, and note natural gas fires are much cleaner. Critics call the proposal bureaucracy run amok.
--snip--
Kathy Voss-Jensen and Joel Jensen favor the rules. Three years ago, the Redwood City couple got a new neighbor who burns wood nearly every winter day despite their requests to limit it.
"It's very noxious and irritating," she said. "We have to keep our windows closed tight for several hours a day. And we have to keep them closed all night."
Others say the proposal goes too far.
"I think this is a precursor to banning all wood burning. It is a camel's nose under the tent," said Steve Drenker, a Los Altos sales manager whose 1950s ranch home has a fireplace.
Drenker burns only dry oak, he said, and his fires do not smoke up the neighborhood.
(Excerpt) Read more at origin.mercurynews.com ...
They’d love it in my area....we burn coal as well as wood.
Nanny State Ping..............
No worries mate, when "Obama Bin Your Mama" gets elected we can just stay in place cuz with a liberal as Prez and a Liberal Congress America WILL BE a Prison.
I also burn m plastic bottles in the fireplace. Don’t want them ending up in a landfill.
Can’t wait for spring so I can have fires.. constantly!
I think these liberal moonbats need something to do. They should get a job or get religion or get a life.
Hmmm, let me guess, #5 has a label (If you look real closely at the chimney.) “INSERT JDAM HERE.”
I’ll Let my F-15 driving nephew have a copy of this photo fer sher.....
Second-hand fireplace smoke is a menace. I say ban all fireplaces in restaurants and workplaces. People should not be allowed to use the fireplace in their cars if children are present. You can not have a fireplace within 50 feet of the entrance of a public building.
Last but not least we need a Fireplace Tax on all fireplaces whether they are used or not.
I have to go build a fire in my fireplace but I’ll catch yall later.
Your post should send a chill down the back of every Go-fearing, freedom loving American. Unfortunately our education system has made it a point to dumb down the teaching of history AND it's meanings.
Do not make light. Extreme leftists would love to increase abortions, legalize euthanasia for the infirm, severly disabled etc. They mirror the most vile of Nazi's in their humanist views and policies.
“It’s very noxious and irritating,” she said.
The nanny state is going to bite EVERYONE in the ass, thanks to these progressive twits!
I wish America was Survivor.
I get chills down my spine when I fantasize about Jeff Probst addressing the Libtards Saying: "Leftest twits, the tribe has spoken!" and then he snuffs out their torch!!!"
LOL, they have a religion. It is the house of worship that places humanism, socialism and environmentalism on a pedestal and denies the existence of God.
If it's winter, and cold enough for burning wood to warm a house--why are his windows open? Just sounds like your usual busybody.
I always thought of a wood fire as one of the nice smells of Winter.
Why don't they pay the homeless a bottle of 20/20 for every fire they find?
Snitch alert!
As long as you have a permit we might let you do it, else we will send the fireplace police after you... they ride on Møøses and we all know how nasti they can be. :-)
On another note -- good to see you back. Have noticed that you've been absent for a while.
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