ArgusLeader.com
Dan T. Donahoe • Sioux Falls • September 20, 2008
I read with great interest Peggy Ellingston's recent letter in the Argus Leader, "Fire pit smoke fills fresh air."
I must agree with her completely.
It doesn't seem too difficult to understand that when people live in a city or village, in close proximity to one another, the byproducts of wood burning (smoke, carcinogenic matter, noxious chemistry and odor) will impact someone nearby.
This leads me to wonder why adults would engage in this type of entertainment? Possibly they don't understand the impact.
I would like to challenge the wood burners to answer these questions:
When your fire pit is burning, do you leave the windows of your home open?
When there is a wind, which side of the pit do you sit on?
Now I could be wrong, but my guess is that you do not leave the windows of your home open as your fire pit is smoking and burning. I also would bet that you sit in a position where you are not in the direct path of the smoke, fumes and other byproducts of your fire.
Herein lies the problem.
Unfortunately, your neighbor, who is getting smoked out by your recreational fire, cannot move his house out of the path of your smoke. You, on the other hand, just can get up and move your chair away from the smoke and stink.
So I challenge you recreational wood burners to sit in the smoke and stink of your fire instead of moving your chair to the fresh-air side. I also challenge you to leave the windows of your home open while you burn your pit.
Especially if the wind is blowing the smoke into your home.
If you walk a mile in your neighbors' shoes, you might be a bit more considerate the next time the wind is blowing and you want to light up that pit.
+++++
Additional comments from people that responded to the above letter...
1...Great letter! At my mom's house in Okoboji, her neighbors are constantly using their fire pit and it ALWAYS invades her house. She is not a fan of air conditioning but has to do this so it doesn't smell like a bonfire in there. It is rude and thoughtless. I can't burn my leaves in the city, why can people have fire pits?
2...Good points. I might add this is a health hazard for people with asthma. So people should respect their neighbors and not have these open fires, if the neighbor has a concern about it. Sadly, common consideration and good citizenship is not common anymore.
Thanks for the interesting letter.
An Ohio state senator’s letter supporting Outdoor Wood Boilers
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The Times-Gazette
Hillsboro, Ohio
September 9, 2008
Re: An Ohio state senator’s letter supporting Outdoor Wood Boilers
And a response…..
Posted: Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Article comment by: mary smith
Senator Carey needs to have an OWB next to his house so he can experience 24/7 OWB smoke exposure first hand. You can't fully understand what you haven't personally experienced. And to use the argument that "Many Ohioans have invested thousands of dollars to install wood boilers..." doesn't acknowledge that the OWB neighbors have also spent thousands of dollars on their gas or oil heating systems and on purchasing their properties. OWB smoke drifting across a property line is trespass. OWB smoke is thick, heavy and toxic and creates a public health hazard. That nice wood smoke smell is caused by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are known human carcinogens. The Ohio legislature needs to understand that OWB emissions exceed what existing Ohio EPA air pollution laws allow for visible emissions, particulates and toxic air emissions, and no person should have to tolerate smoke constantly in their homes and on their property. Ohio legislators need to learn that OWB smoke contains unhealthy levels of toxic air pollutants. Just 'cause we've burned wood for thousands of years doesn't mean that it's harmless. Remember, we used to make our water pipes out of lead 'cause we didn't know any better. We used to cover our houses in asbestos 'cause we didn't know any better. We used to fill our teeth with mercury 'cause we didn't know any better. We know better than to force people to live in a cloud of toxic wood smoke. Even a 2-year old will get out of the way of smoke. But, you can't get your house out of the way when the OWB is next door.
Web master comment---we agree!
Hillsboro, Ohio
September 9, 2008
Re: An Ohio state senator’s letter supporting Outdoor Wood Boilers
And a response…..
Posted: Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Article comment by: mary smith
Senator Carey needs to have an OWB next to his house so he can experience 24/7 OWB smoke exposure first hand. You can't fully understand what you haven't personally experienced. And to use the argument that "Many Ohioans have invested thousands of dollars to install wood boilers..." doesn't acknowledge that the OWB neighbors have also spent thousands of dollars on their gas or oil heating systems and on purchasing their properties. OWB smoke drifting across a property line is trespass. OWB smoke is thick, heavy and toxic and creates a public health hazard. That nice wood smoke smell is caused by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are known human carcinogens. The Ohio legislature needs to understand that OWB emissions exceed what existing Ohio EPA air pollution laws allow for visible emissions, particulates and toxic air emissions, and no person should have to tolerate smoke constantly in their homes and on their property. Ohio legislators need to learn that OWB smoke contains unhealthy levels of toxic air pollutants. Just 'cause we've burned wood for thousands of years doesn't mean that it's harmless. Remember, we used to make our water pipes out of lead 'cause we didn't know any better. We used to cover our houses in asbestos 'cause we didn't know any better. We used to fill our teeth with mercury 'cause we didn't know any better. We know better than to force people to live in a cloud of toxic wood smoke. Even a 2-year old will get out of the way of smoke. But, you can't get your house out of the way when the OWB is next door.
Web master comment---we agree!
All Fired up: the urban fire pit dilemna-article
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
All fired up: the urban fire pit dilemma
By Lisa Albert for Sunset Magazine
July 17, 2008
I fall in love easily—with gardens and plants, that is. When touring a garden, admiration and joy grows with each step I take and with each plant I discover. Unfortunately, that bliss fades abruptly when I stumble upon the latest must-have garden addition: the wood-burning fire feature.
The haze of second-hand smoke obscures the view.
I have asthma, along with 22.9 million other Americans. It is the leading chronic childhood illness in the U.S. Although asthma can be fatal, thankfully deaths are infrequent. But it is an expensive disease, costing the U.S. economy around $19.7 billion each year (American Lung Association).
Smoke is a powerful trigger; avoidance of it shapes my life. I’ve given up activities that brought me joy, including camping with my family, for what is camping without a campfire? I’ve accepted these limitations but I’m struggling with those imposed by smoke from recreational fires.
In the last four years, I’ve had to give up time in my garden and shut my windows to cool night breezes due to wood smoke in the neighborhood. I can’t see the fire burning in someone’s backyard whether it’s next door, down the street, or two blocks over. I have no warning that my next breath will include smoke’s deadly particles, and then it’s too late to prevent an attack. Four weeks ago, a neighbor’s smoky fire triggered an attack so severe I thought I’d need hospitalization. It took me four miserable days to recover.
Most people aren’t aware of wood smoke’s impact on air quality, its effect on health and wellbeing, or that these inefficient wood-burning features are a growing source of pollution throughout the U.S. “Each fire emits close to one pound of smoke pollution, with 90% being in the deadly smaller than one micron range.” (Clean Air Revival). Municipalities are banning these polluting features. In many areas, when a fire or its smoke endangers another’s health or property, it is deemed “hostile” and local authorities will extinguish the fire (enforcement agencies vary by region). That certainly would put a damper on an evening of fun around a fire with family and friends.
The good news is that there are cleaner-burning alternatives, including natural gas, propane, denatured alcohol, and Java-Log. Even better, the first three options open up a world of design possibilities for our gardens. Instead of the ubiquitous metal bowl with last night’s charred remains, imagine an artful piece crafted of metal and stone. By day, it is a stunning, creative garden feature. When lit at night, it surprises, pleases, and warms guests without masking intoxicating garden fragrances, such as star jasmine, gardenia, and angel’s trumpet.
Fortunately, we can have our fire and clean air, too.
source article
http://freshdirt.sunset.com/2008/07/all-fired-up-th.html
By Lisa Albert for Sunset Magazine
July 17, 2008
I fall in love easily—with gardens and plants, that is. When touring a garden, admiration and joy grows with each step I take and with each plant I discover. Unfortunately, that bliss fades abruptly when I stumble upon the latest must-have garden addition: the wood-burning fire feature.
The haze of second-hand smoke obscures the view.
I have asthma, along with 22.9 million other Americans. It is the leading chronic childhood illness in the U.S. Although asthma can be fatal, thankfully deaths are infrequent. But it is an expensive disease, costing the U.S. economy around $19.7 billion each year (American Lung Association).
Smoke is a powerful trigger; avoidance of it shapes my life. I’ve given up activities that brought me joy, including camping with my family, for what is camping without a campfire? I’ve accepted these limitations but I’m struggling with those imposed by smoke from recreational fires.
In the last four years, I’ve had to give up time in my garden and shut my windows to cool night breezes due to wood smoke in the neighborhood. I can’t see the fire burning in someone’s backyard whether it’s next door, down the street, or two blocks over. I have no warning that my next breath will include smoke’s deadly particles, and then it’s too late to prevent an attack. Four weeks ago, a neighbor’s smoky fire triggered an attack so severe I thought I’d need hospitalization. It took me four miserable days to recover.
Most people aren’t aware of wood smoke’s impact on air quality, its effect on health and wellbeing, or that these inefficient wood-burning features are a growing source of pollution throughout the U.S. “Each fire emits close to one pound of smoke pollution, with 90% being in the deadly smaller than one micron range.” (Clean Air Revival). Municipalities are banning these polluting features. In many areas, when a fire or its smoke endangers another’s health or property, it is deemed “hostile” and local authorities will extinguish the fire (enforcement agencies vary by region). That certainly would put a damper on an evening of fun around a fire with family and friends.
The good news is that there are cleaner-burning alternatives, including natural gas, propane, denatured alcohol, and Java-Log. Even better, the first three options open up a world of design possibilities for our gardens. Instead of the ubiquitous metal bowl with last night’s charred remains, imagine an artful piece crafted of metal and stone. By day, it is a stunning, creative garden feature. When lit at night, it surprises, pleases, and warms guests without masking intoxicating garden fragrances, such as star jasmine, gardenia, and angel’s trumpet.
Fortunately, we can have our fire and clean air, too.
source article
http://freshdirt.sunset.com/2008/07/all-fired-up-th.html
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