These Fresno-area homes burned wood on dirty air days this season. What were consequences?
CORRECTION: The original story had incorrect citation totals. It has been updated.
Air pollution officials in the central San Joaquin Valley wrote 240 citations for violations of fireplace no-burn orders during the 2021-2022 enforcement period, up from 197 citations in 2020-2021.
The citations, which cost $100 for a first-time violation, were issued from Nov. 1 to Feb. 28 as part of the Residential Wood Smoke Reduction Program by the Air Pollution Control District for the San Joaquin Valley.
Spokeswoman Jamie Holt said the citations are intended to protect the health of residents from pollution caused by wood smoke burning.
Citations come in two forms: “No Burning Unless Registered, ” which allow homes with air cleaner devices to warm homes with wood, and “No Burning For All.”
Orders are issued on days when high pressure weather systems traps pollutants in the Valley. Wood smoke can aggravate heart and lung diseases, asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
The district allows citizens to make online complaints to report no-burn violations. Spokesperson Heather Heinks said district representatives don’t knock on doors to cite a violator. Rather, a citation is sent by mail. If someone were to fight the citation, they could go to a hearing as part of a civil process. A first-time offender may opt to attend an educational program to reduce the fine by 50 percent.
Scofflaws who don’t pay fines are subject to a civil court process, but Heinks said that rarely happens.
This story was originally published March 3, 2022 at 8:00 AM.