SO CAL AQMD CONSIDERS LIMITATIONS/BAN ON WOOD BURNING FIREPLACES

     From today's Los Angeles Times:

Throwing a few logs on the fire on a nippy evening, or boosting a home's market appeal by advertising its wood-burning fireplace, could go the way of the coal chute and the ice box for many Southern Californians if newly proposed air quality regulations are adopted.

As part of air pollution plans designed to meet federal deadlines, South Coast Air Quality Management District officials have proposed a ban on wood-burning fireplaces in all new homes in Los Angeles, Orange and portions of Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

In addition, on winter days when pollution spikes, wood-fueled blazes in all fireplaces would be banned in highly affected areas. That could amount to about 20 days a year, district officials said.

      "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose"--watch out, Jack-you're next.