Residents Using Woodstoves Reminded To Burn Clean, Dry Firewood To Reduce Pollution

With the colder weather setting in, residents who use a woodstove to heat their homes are reminded to only burn clean, dry firewood to help reduce wood smoke pollution in the fall and winter months.

The effects of wood smoke are made worse in the Comox Valley due to cold season inversions, which trap air in the Valley for extended periods.

Small particulate pollution from wood smoke has health impacts even at very low concentrations as the small size of the particulate enables it to enter the human bloodstream.

For information about air quality topics, including wood smoke and health, woodstove rebates, the venting index, how to dry firewood, and how to burn in a wood stove, you can visit https://cumberland.ca/air-quality-and-wood-smoke-in-cumberland/

A couple things of note - that rebate to replace an older wood-burning stove with a cleaner burning option - it could be worth $1,000 or more - you can apply for it through the Comox Valley Regional District's website.

And, to make sure your wood pile is dry, the Village of Cumberland has moisture meters that residents can borrow free of charge. They are used to determine whether firewood is dry enough to burn. Wood must have a moisture content of 20% or less in order to burn.

To borrow a moisture meter, you can stop by the Village Office.