communityconnect
Do you have a smoky chimney?
Preventing air pollution & unwanted smoke
Help keep your neighbourhood friendly by using your wood heater correctly to minimise smoke. Your heater should only smoke for a few minutes when you first light it and when you add extra timber. Some tips to make sure your wood heater is working efficiently and generating minimal smoke is to:
Only burn small logs of aged, dry hardwood (unseasoned wood has more moisture, which makes more smoke). Use plenty of dry kindling to establish a good fire quickly. Store wood under cover in a dry and well-ventilated area. Never burn rubbish, driftwood, treated or painted wood as they pollute the air and can be poisonous. Keep the flame lively and bright. Don’t let your heater smoulder overnight, keep enough air in the fire to maintain a flame. Check and clean your chimney each year before winter. Check your chimney regularly for smoke, if there is smoke coming from the chimney increase the air supply to your fire. Smoke from wood heaters can contain carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and other nasties so it is important they are installed and operated correctly. Check your heater has a compliance plate stating it conforms to Australian Standard (AS/NZS 4013:2014) and (AS/NZS 4012:2014). For more information please contact council’s Public and Environmental Health Section on 1300 864 444 or visit ballina.nsw.gov.au.
CAN YOU USE A FIRE PIT THIS WINTER? Everyone enjoys watching the ‘bush telly’ during the cooler months, and council often gets asked – can I have a fire pit in the backyard? The short answer is yes, but it’s useful to take a look at council’s Backyard Burning Policy. The policy aims to prevent air pollution and unwanted smoke generated by backyard fires. Under the policy, residents in our towns and villages can enjoy a backyard fire for cooking or recreational purposes, but not to burn vegetation or other waste. Instead, you need to dispose of garden waste in your green organics bin, compost or reuse it in the garden. If you do have a backyard fire you need to make sure you only burn dry seasoned timber and manage the fire to minimise smoke and impacts on your neighbours. It is also important to check with NSW Fire and Rescue or Rural Fire Service as a fire permit may be required. Fire and Rescue Ballina suggest that backyard fires must be:
In a purpose built area/device. Have a minimum cleared area of 2 metres. For more information contact council’s Planning and Environmental Health Division on 1300 864 444 or visit ballina.nsw.gov.au For permits, bushfire danger periods and total fire bans visit fire.nsw.gov.au or rfs.nsw.gov.au
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