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Our weekly news column bringing the most current, non-biased health
information to the consumer. |
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July 14, 2009 |
A Publication of QVHD |
Backyard Campfires
By: V. Deborah Culligan, RN, MPH,
Deputy Director QVHD
Many families like to sit
around on a summer or fall evening making s'mores over their backyard
“campfire.” Chimineas and fire pits have become commonplace patio items.
As enjoyable as they are, they may become a nuisance to your neighbor,
especially for those with breathing and heart problems. Any kind of wood
smoke consists of small airborne particles (particulate matter or PM)
that can become lodged in your lungs, making breathing difficult.
Open burning in the form of backyard campfires, like chimineas and fire
pits, is legal, according to information from the CT Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) Air Bureau. No permit is needed for
backyard campfires if non-processed and untreated wood (typical
firewood) are burned in them. ( The burning of leaves and garbage is
never allowed, even with a permit.) However, even though backyard
campfires are legal and do not require a permit, they are subject to
public nuisance laws under CT State Statutes, should a neighbor choose
to complain. If that occurs, you can be cited for creating a public
health nuisance.
Therefore, you should do your best to burn properly so as not to create
a public nuisance. The following may be helpful in order to decrease
smoke released from these fires:
• Use only dry, properly cured and non-treated wood. Never burn garbage,
including plastic, foil, paper, or newspaper. That is illegal!
• Use small diameter sticks. These tend to generate less smoke.
• Do not burn when air pollution levels are high. Air Quality Indexes
are often given on the television, radio and in newspapers. You can also
check on line at the CT DEP's Air Quality Index ,
http://dep.state.ct.us/airmonitoring/aqi.asp
• Keep your campfire as far away from neighboring property lines as you
can.
• You may wish to talk to your neighbors about having backyard
campfires.
If you are not sensitive to smoke and do not have any breathing
problems, you may not understand why your neighbor would complain about
your backyard campfire. But what may bring you great pleasure may bring
harm to another person. Trying to be a good neighbor often keeps things
from escalating to the public nuisance level, which can bring a police
officer, fire department or public health inspector to your door.
If you are the neighbor bothered by a backyard campfire, you might first
start by talking to your neighbor. Perhaps a solution can be worked out.
However, if you desire, you have the right to call the health department
to get it stopped. Please note: this column addresses backyard
campfires. It does not address outdoor wood burning furnaces. For
information on either backyard campfires or wood burning furnaces,
District residents can call QVHD, 248-4528 or request on line at
www.qvhd.org.
| An Ounce of Prevention is a
publication of the Quinnipiack Valley Health District, located at
1151 Hartford Turnpike, North Haven, CT 06473. Telephone:
248-4528. An Ounce of Prevention is
written by V. Deborah Culligan. The articles are published in the following local newspapers, The Advisor &
Beth-Wood News.
The content is provided as health education and
information to help you make health decisions. It is not intended to
be legal or medical advice, or substitute for recommendations made
by your health care provider. Address all comments to the district
office. |
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