CA: Thanksgiving Day Wood Burning Prohibited

If a town can ban windmills, why not wood burning?

Why not lawyers?

skf

California -- like New Mexico and Arizona -- has for years had days when one cannot burn. Those days are dependent upon weather conditions. If you have ever lived in the punch bowls that pass for cities like Los Angeles or Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, or if you have ever had to breathe NOx, you would understand.

Such days are part of living there, like earthquakes, mudslides, and the government stealing your money using "withholding" as an excuse.

As someone who once got a $175.00 ticket for taking a bath, I must say that there is but one way to fight the oppressive government in the state of California: with your feet. Until the rest of the country follows their lead -- which is ot long, given the state of the economy and the tentacles of the federal government control monster -- that is all one can do.

On the bright and factual side, if you have ever been in the San Joaquin Delta, you are aware that the weather this time of year will be no colder than 50 degrees and is apt to stay in the 60s. Additionally, fireplaces are not commonplace in Callifornia and never have been; and since the late 1990s/early 2000s, fireplaces are not part of California life. They were outlawed in various localities until 2003 when they were outlawed by the state. Gas or electric fireplace-looking items are now built in.

"Why not lawyers?"

Gotcha - sixth amendment, dude. Probably Fourteenth and fifth also.

After all, you got the first and Bigshooter has the second.

My town is of the size where one lawyer would starve to death, but two lawyers could make a good living.

Well, I got snagged by the dreaded AMG double post.

Happy Thanksgiving, fellow conservatives.

They should have started the "press release" with: ACHTUNG!

Here's a hypothetical question. I have oil heat, so do most of us in the village. My neighbor on the other side of the street burns wood. Many days when the wind is in the right direction, the woodsmoke from his chimney blows down to ground level, across the street, and by my front door. The smell of woodsmoke is strong when I step outside. Fortunately, I am only allergic to spruce smoke, and spruce is rarely burned for fuel. If I had an allergic asthma attack, what recourse would I have, theoretically, if my neighbor was burning spruce instead of hardwood?

Alternatively, you could become one of those annoying people who insist that the world comply with their wishes. You know...like the people who bought property next to a hog farm and then sued because of the smell?

If you are going to burn wood, please do it responsibly, with your neighbors in mind. Learn how to burn wood. I have a neighbor who burns wood on occasions, when he does, you cannot go outside without an air pack.

Your right to burn wood ends, when my right to breath ends.

One might suggest, and help the neighbor with splitting whatever size wood he uses into smaller pieces. Doing that can have a benefit in that it creates more surface area, burns more efficiently, and helps eliminate smoke, creosote and dangerous chimney fires.

Great idea K. Wright, spend what little free time I have helping someone I do not care for do his chores. Brilliant. Why didn't I think of that?

Well Robert don't complain if you are not willing to show your neighbor how to do it right, seems to me it would be in your best interest and how long would it take? Or send him written instructions instead, maybe as a Christmas present.

Islander, my neighbor knows everything, and it would take to much of my time and energy to help him split his wood. He hasn't burned any wood since the FD showed up at his house a couple of months ago. When he burns wood, I am sure they get plenty of calls.

Well Robert don't complain

Like I said, his right to burn wood ends when my right to breath ends!

When your right to breath ends, Robert, your neighbor will cease to be a concern of yours.

Robert is right, don't create a nuisance when it is easily avoidable. Burning wood isn't that difficult, it's often the tires and other garbage that people feed into their "heating appliances" that create problems.

I could smoke up my whole neighborhood with my old Ashley stove by running it too tight. My new stove won't put off as much smoke. The fire goes out if I crank it too tight.

Great idea K. Wright, spend what little free time I have helping someone I do not care for do his chores. Brilliant. Why didn't I think of that?

Help thy neighbor and thereby help thyself Robert. But, I do embrace your freedom and choice to do...nothing. I agree the idea is brilliant, and thanks for the compliment!

Small wood will make more smoke than bigger pieces. It has more surface area and if it doesn't get the air it needs it just smolders. I've tried slab wood in my outdoor furnace and the smoke is just too much. I have the best luck with big pieces of dry wood.

Coastal valleys in California are susceptible to some pretty bad air pollution because exhaust and other particles get trapped by the particular climate and geography in those areas.