Between COVID and winter weather, most of us are hunkered down at home, spending more time indoors now than perhaps at any other time in our lives. During wintertime that often means lighting a fire in our fireplace or gathering around a fire pit.

According to the EPA, burning 10 pounds of wood generates 4,300 times more carcinogens into the air we breathe than smoking 30 cigarettes. This can be especially harmful for vulnerable people in our neighborhood, and anything we can do to reduce wood smoke pollution will help our health and our planet.

Wood smoke, decreased air quality, and pollution are linked to health problems like asthma, cardiac arrest, and cancer. Wood smoke also harms our lung’s ability to fight respiratory illnesses, like COVID-19. One type of pollutant emitted from burning wood, PM 2.5, is so small that it can be inhaled deep into your lungs and into your bloodstream.

For your health and the health of your neighbors, pledge now to stop burning recreational fires this winter. Not burning a fire is one simple action you can take to safeguard clean, healthy air in your home and beyond.

Commit to stop burning fires this winter and encourage your friends and family to do the same! Take the #WoodSmokePledge today!