Easy-to-Use Resource Available to Look Up Unrestricted Burn Days

Easy-to-Use Resource Available to Look Up Unrestricted Burn Days

WhenToBurn.com is a location-based, single-point resource for residents to access current burn status and cleaner burning tips

STOCKTON, Calif., Oct. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting November 1, the winter burning curtailment season begins, which can cause confusion about the restrictions that may be imposed on fireplace usage by local air districts. Residents in the Western U.S. can check http://www.WhenToBurn.com for a single-point resource on when they can burn and ways to reduce emissions from their fireplaces.

A typical winter burn program runs from November through February. Most days during this period it is acceptable to burn, but mandatory no burn days can be issued at the discretion of the local districts if the concentration of particulate matter (PM2.5) is outside of each district's prescribed threshold. Residents are encouraged to use http://www.WhenToBurn.com as a simple, go-to resource for burn ban information. WhentoBurn.com aggregates information from local air districts into one portal, so the user can simply enter his or her zip code to access the local burn status.

Air districts reported include:

    --  City of Albuquerque
    --  Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Spare the Air Alerts)
    --  Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
    --  Lane Regional Air Protection Agency
    --  Maricopa County Air Quality Department
    --  Northwest Clean Air Agency
    --  Olympic Region Clean Air Agency
    --  Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
    --  Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
    --  Sacramento Metro Air Quality Management District
    --  San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District
    --  Southwest Clean Air Agency
    --  Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency
    --  Utah Department of Environmental Quality
In order to help maintain clean air quality, the following tips are recommended:

    --  Always ensure the flue is open before lighting a fire and that there is
        an adequate draft up the chimney.
    --  Have a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep(® )inspect and clean chimneys
        annually. The Chimney Safety Institute of America's website offers a
        Certified Professional Locator.
    --  Never burn garbage or plastic.
    --  Regularly remove ashes from the fireplace to maintain proper airflow.
        Always empty the ashes into a metal container with a lid and store
        outside on a concrete surface.
    --  Use manufactured fire logs, like those from Duraflame, instead of wood;
        they burn up to 80 percent cleaner than an equivalent duration wood
        fire.
    --  If burning wood, use only dry, seasoned cordwood (dried for at least six
        months with less than 20 percent moisture), and always use a
        manufactured firestarter to minimize excessive emissions that can occur
        during the ignition of the fire.
The online resource is provided by the fire log manufacturer Duraflame, Inc. as part of a longstanding public education program to promote cleaner burning practices.  Duraflame has worked cooperatively over the years with many local air districts, and, through this work, recognized the need to create a user friendly, one-stop resource for information on burning.

About Duraflame, Inc.

Duraflame, Inc. is America's fire log brand leader.  Headquartered in Stockton, Calif., Duraflame is a privately held, family-owned company that has been in business for more than 40 years.  The company produces and distributes fire logs, fire starters, fireplace accessories, barbecue and outdoor products.  More information about Duraflame and its product line is available at http://www.duraflame.com.

SOURCE  Duraflame, Inc.

Duraflame, Inc.

CONTACT: Matt Smedley, +1-503-467-4686, msmedley@frause.com

Web Site: http://www.duraflame.com