Jennifer Kline,  Daily Californian, December 6, 2001

Ordinance Would Curb Use of Wood-Burning Fireplaces in City: Education on Health Risks a 'Major Component of Proposal'

Those building new houses in Berkeley will have to do without the comfort of wood burning fireplaces if the Berkeley City Council passes a proposed ordinance from a city commission.

The ordinance, proposed by the Community Environmental Advisory Commission, would prohibit the construction of wood-burning fireplaces and stoves in Berkeley homes. Set to be considered by the council on Dec. 18, the ordinance also proposes to educate the public on the hazards of wood burning smoke.

Proponents of the proposal see it as a symbolic recognition of the dangers of smoke from wood burning fires. They say the initial impact would be minimal because very few houses are being built in Berkeley.

"What this ordinance would fail to do is reduce sources of smoke," said Commissioner L A Wood. "This is a ordinance that talks about minor provisions and doesn't even begin to scratch at the problem. The reason we put it forth is because we recognized it was without teeth but a major component of it was education."

Education is seen by the supporters as a key part of the proposal. They hope that drawing attention to the health risks will result in a voluntary reduction of wood burning. Commissioner Jamie Caseber said, however, they do not yet have funding for the education campaign.

Money was requested from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District but the regulatory agency turned down the request because they said funding for the campaign was not allocated in this year's budget.

"The main obstacle to this proposal is ignorance on the part of people who burn wood. If everybody understood what scientific studies have shown, they may be a lot more careful about burning wood," Caseber said.

According to the American Lung Association, wood burning is the largest source of particulate matter air pollution generated by residential sources. Wood burning has been linked to lower respiratory infections, exacerbation of asthma and increased difficulties for those with cardiac problems.

"The particles are quite hazardous to peoples' health because they are so small," Caseber said. While the onflow of marine breeze usually keeps the air in Berkeley clean, on cold, foggy days, the air quality can be unhealthy.

According to a report by the environmental advisory commission, when a high-pressure area develops during fall and winter cold spells, residential wood burning contributes between 30 and 80 percent of the small particulate matter in the air known to have adverse effects on cardiac and respiratory health. During these times, there is not enough sea breeze to clean up the particulate matter in the air.

"Studies have beautifully shown that as soon as you get these cold damp winter days fireplace usage goes up, emergency room admissions go up and deaths go up as well," said Elmer Grossman, a doctor who sits on the environmental advisory commission.

Opponents of the proposal in the commission disagree, saying wood burning doesn't pose any significant risks to the public. They worry that this measure is the first in a series of ordinances that aim to restrict wood -burning fireplaces in all homes.

"I don't think that wood burning is any hazard at this time or place," said Commissioner Daniel Luten, "The proposal is ill advised."

Caseber noted that a moratorium on wood-burning fireplaces would not be an inconvenience to Berkeley because it only prohibits the construction of new fireplaces. "It will probably effect no more than four or five homes a year" that are built in Berkeley, Caseber said. The proposal, if approved, would not cost the city any money because it is largely a symbolic measure. Commissioners are optimistic that the city will adopt the proposal as an ordinance.

"I would say as far as the ordinance being derailed, I don't think there is too much chance of that," Caseber said.