BURNING RESTRICTED DUE TO AIR QUALITY

Major restrictions have kicked in on burning wood because of current air quality.
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Air Quality Division says a stage 2 Advisory has been implemented in Fairbanks and a stage 3 Alert has been implemented in North Pole.

Under the stage three designation at North Pole, no fuel source may be added to the combustion chamber or firebox of any solid fuel burning appliances, masonry heaters, pellet fuel burning appliances, cook stoves, fireplaces, or waste oil burning appliances.

No waste oil may be added to a waste oil burning appliance. Residents should rely instead on their home’s alternate, cleaner source of heat (such as a furnace, boiler or electric baseboard heaters) until the Stage 3 air alert is cancelled.

Outdoor burning is prohibited including non-permitted incinerators and burn barrels. This does not include recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires or ceremonial fires and the use of fire pits.

Under the stage two alert in Fairbanks, burning is permitted in all EPA-certified solid fuel burning appliances, and EPA Phase II qualified hydronic heaters, masonry heaters, pellet fuel burning appliances, cook stoves, and fireplaces. No fuel source may be added to the combustion chamber or firebox of any solid fuel burning appliance or waste oil burning appliance not listed above.
Residents should rely instead on their home’s alternate, cleaner source of heat (such as a gas or fuel oil fired furnace or boiler or electric baseboard heaters) until the Stage 2 air alert is cancelled.

Current Air Quality in Fairbanks is classified as “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups”. People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should limit prolonged exertion.

Current Air Quality in North Pole is classified as “Unhealthy”. People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should avoid prolonged exertion; everyone else should limit prolonged exertion.