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Indoor Fires & Burning

Using a stove or open fire at home is a major contributor of a pollutant called fine particulate matter*. These tiny particles can damage your lungs and other organs and can be harmful to your health. If you have other ways to heat your home, consider burning less.

If you need to burn however, consider the below:

  • Ensure your chimney is traditionally swept with frequency dependent on fuel type. Further information is available here: Chimney fires | Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service
  • Make sure your open fire or stove is installed by a registered or certified installer
  • Ensure the ventilation of your stove is clean with no blockages to prevent carbon monoxide build up
  • Use a stove thermometer to understand how your stove is performing
  • Do not burn wet or treated, painted or glued wood
  • Use fuels from DEFRA’s certified list of manufactures of solid fuels or dry, untreated wood

The dirtiest fuel to use is coal, the cleanest is dry untreated wood with a moisture content of 20% or less. As well as damaging your stove and chimney, using inappropriate fuel can be an inefficient way to heat your home, increase maintenance needs and overall costs. 

For home energy saving advice including grants, subsidies and local free advice, visit our saving energy at home webpage.

Your supplier

Firewood sold in volumes under 2m³ needs to be Ready to Burn certified. Look for the Image result for ready to burn logop logo , or check a supplier’s reference code here and let Gloucestershire Trading Standards know if you have any concerns. 

Report a smoke nuisance

If burning is deemed to be causing a nuisance to another property, action can be taken under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

It is advised to talk to the occupier of the property creating the smoke to let them know it is causing you a problem. If this does not work, or you do not feel you can approach them, please contact your local council Environmental Health team who may be able to investigate.

If the local authority is unable to substantiate a statutory nuisance, you can take your own action against the person/organisation responsible under Section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Smoke Control Areas

Do you live in a Smoke Control Area? Some parts of Gloucester and Cheltenham have Smoke Control Areas. This means it is illegal to burn smokey fuels such as wood and coal in an open fireplace or in a non-approved wood burning or multi-fuel stove. Further information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/smoke-control-area-rules. 

You can be fined up to £1,000 for non-compliance.

 

*Relative domestic PM emissions