Winter Advisory No Burn Program

The Winter Advisory No Burn Program was developed to help reduce the output of carbon monoxide and elements which contribute to the formation of ozone. The Program restricts when Bernalillo County residents can use their non-EPA certified wood burning fireplaces or stoves. Factors such as current pollutant levels, daily weather patterns, air movement, and temperature levels are all taken into consideration daily before a no-burn call is made.

The No Burn season lasts from October 1st through February 28/29th.

Call (505) 768-BURN (768-2876) to hear a recorded message on whether or not it is okay to burn for the day. The message is updated daily at 11:00 a.m., and is applicable for 24 hours through 11:00 a.m. the following day.

Click here for today's No Burn status

How are No-Burn calls made (26kb)

Exemptions

There are some exemptions to the No Burn Program. These include:

• If the woodburning device is the sole source of heat or fuel for cooking, it may be used during a No Burn period.
• Medical necessity of a woodburning device
• Low income status
• Emergency situations such as the failure of a residence's primary heating system

If you believe you qualify for an exemption you may download or print the following documents.

• 2008-2009 No Burn Exemption Request Information Letter (47kb)
• 2008-2009 No Burn Exemption Request Form (49kb)
• List of EPA Certified Wood Stoves (2382kb)

If you want more details or cannot download the files, please call (505) 768-1972 or email aqd@cabq.gov.

Restrictions

During a declared no-burn period, residential woodburning devices are not allowed to operate within Bernalillo County except for EPA-certified wood burning devices.

The restrictions on burning in your fireplace or wood stove run from October 1st through February 28/29th. There is an applicable burn-down period for fires that were started the morning the no-burn call was made. The burn-down period provides 3 hours (until 2 PM) for any existing fires to burn out. March 1st through September 30th you may burn in the fireplace or wood stove at your convenience, as long as there is not excessive smoke.

It is not illegal to use a solid fuel heating device or fireplace for heating or ambiance, as long as it is an "okay to burn" day, the fuel being used is correct for that type of heating device, and wood used for heating is both dry and seasoned. However, persons using fireplaces or wood stoves must comply with the requirements of Code Enforcement (which includes stack height specifications), and, when operating, the solid fuel device or fireplace must not exceed a 30% opacity rating as required by regulation.

Woodburning Facts

• 402 pounds of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). VOCs aid in the formation of ground level ozone.
• 443 pounds of Carbon Monoxide (CO).
• 4.6 pounds of Nitrous Oxides (NOx). NOx aid in the formation of ground level ozone.
• 0.7 pounds of Sulfur Oxides (SOx). SOx are components of acid rain.

Pollution from one home heated by wood for one year equals

• 400 homes heated by oil or natural gas
• one car driving for 130,000 miles
• Why is woodburning an air pollution problem?

More Information

• For no burn complaints please call 768-1972 or call 311.
• EPA has information on Buying an EPA-Certified Woodstove. For a current list of EPA-certified wood stoves or for more information about wood burning and EPA's regulations go to the EPA web site: EPA Wood Stove Publications
• California Air Resource Board's Wood Burning Handbook (920kb)
• Wood Burning regulation 20.11.22 NMAC is available from the New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC) web site (27kb)
• Regulations and Ordinances