Fireplace police on patrol; smoke can draw fine

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | November 20, 2008 | Steve Rubenstein and Grant junkie

[Eric Blair 2084]

The fireplace police descended on the Bay Area on Wednesday.

For the first time ever, residential fires are illegal under a new law, passed in July, that bans home burning on winter season Spare the Air days.

The first such ban took effect at noon. Seventy inspectors from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District planned to spend the day and evening patrolling residential neighborhoods, looking for telltale chimney wisps.

Violators will get warnings by mail. Repeat offenders face fines of as much as $2,000.

The fireplace police say they are determined to keep law and order in the living room.

"We're serious," said district spokeswoman Kristine Roselius. "This is a major health threat. The weather conditions are such that smoke is trapped closer to the ground and anyone with respiratory problems will have a hard time breathing."

[Eric Blair 2084]

Comment #61 removed by moderator

[notdownwidems]

These morons can’t catch murderers, illegal aliens or rapists, so they have to go after normal people enjoying a winter-fire...unbelievable.

[Eric Blair 2084]

Comment # 62-89 removed by moderator

[bigheadfred]

They will use our children to spy on us next.

How familiar are you with this program?

[noblejones]

<<
Any FReepers here who live in San Fran?
>>

I lived in San Francisco most of my adult life. Ran screaming a few years back. No regrets. I don’t really miss the prevasive stench of urine.

[goldstategop]

My fireplace is maintainance-free. Its gas-powered and the logs are fake. But its romantic all the same!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[USAF70]

Those ‘fireplace police’ would have a heyday here in the mountains of NC. About 80% of us heat with a woodstove. Oh, by the way, the ‘fireplace police’ need to know we also cling to our bibles and guns!

[ItsOurTimeNow]

There you go injecting logic and reason into liberal feel-good hysteria! How dare you!? lol

[bootless]

Joe, that’s sad. I used to live in PH. This cannot stand. The smoke nazis reduced the limits for Spare the Air days because the previous round didn’t catch enough people.

May I suggest that you call Brian Sussman on KSFO some evening. As a meteorologist, he’ll be hip to it.

[Just Lori]

I can't resist this one. Whoever wrote this....

residential fires are illegal under a new law, passed in July, that bans home burning ....

wrote it that way on purpose, right?

[Just Lori]

...anyone with respiratory problems will have a hard time breathing.

Ya think???

Sorry. I couldn't help myself.........again.

[Just Lori]

Can ya cook on that thing?

[Westlander]

Sure can. But remember you gotta use a raised rack. You don’t put anything directly on the surface of a decent woodstove. Had mine for 15 years now and the only thing i’ve replaced once is the firebrick inside (it burns out).

http://www.regency-fire.com/Wood/Stoves/

[Just Lori]

We have a favorite woodstove as well.....

http://www.lopistoves.com/

[Westlander]

Good lookin’. Is that cast iron or steel?

[Kevmo]

Hey, how come you haven’t pinged the Nanny State ping list? I live in this area and these friggin libruls are serious about this bull shiite.

[Just Lori]

Cast iron.

[Uncle Hal]

SEVENTY INSPECTORS!! Probably all making a minimum $60 grand a year plus benefits and driving around in a car furnished at tax payers expense. No wonder the state is broke and near bankruptcy.

[JoeA]

Sounds like a good idea. Suss has a good show and he’s real tough on the envirowackos.

[Eric Blair 2084]

Preaching to the choir is one thing. Until others see what is coming for them, they won’t understand.