Wood Heating

Key facts about Wood Burning:

• Wood stoves, fireplaces and inserts emit tiny, microscopic particles into the air.
• When inhaled, these fine particles travel deep in the lungs, causing damage to sensitive lung tissue.
• Burning wood produces carbon monoxide and other toxins that can harm our health.
• During a 6-month heating season, smoke from wood burning devices contributes over 2,000 tons of fine particles to Spokane's air. That's more than industry emits all year long.

If you heat with wood, you need to know the requirements:

• Wood burning devices sold and installed in Washington state must meet Washington's clean air requirements. 
  
  
• Not sure if your wood stove or fireplace insert is EPA-certified? For help, click here.
  
  
• Upgrade your old wood stove —REBATES AVAILABLE beginning in January 2008, for pre-qualified homeowners. Click here  for details.
  
  
  
• Burning may not occur during mandatory restrictions. For current conditions, click here.   For information about burn bans and boundaries of the smoke control zone, click here.  
  
  
• Only dry, seasoned wood, or manufactured logs and pellets may be burned. Any other material is illegal to burn.
  
• Give your fire plenty of air. Visible smoke emitted from chimneys is restricted and must be within state opacity limits.

The picture on the left is of a hot, clean burning fire in an certified wood burning device.  Learn More... 

Outdoor Wood-Fired Boilers
Know the facts before making an investment in outdoor wood-fired boilers. Click here for a Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency fact sheet on rules related to these devices. The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) has developed a web page that provides detailed information about outdoor wood-fired boilers, click here.