How Wood Smoke Affects Our Air and Health

Wood smoke from burn piles, wood stoves, fireplaces, and agricultural burning can quickly build up in our valley—especially in the winter when cold, still air traps smoke close to the ground. That trapped smoke can lower air quality and cause health problems, especially for children, elders, and people with heart or lung conditions.

Like cigarette smoke, wood smoke contains hundreds of harmful pollutants, some of which can cause serious illness over time. Even if you don’t burn wood, you’re still affected—smoke from a neighbor’s chimney can drift into your home, even when windows and doors are shut.

Because of our geography and weather patterns, the Okanogan River Airshed experiences more smoke impacts during both summer wildfire season and the winter heating season. That’s why our community efforts to reduce smoke make such a big difference for everyone’s health.

Learn more about how wood smoke affects out health by clicking here.

Simple Ways to Reduce Your Smoke Footprint

Every bit of smoke adds up—and what we burn affects the air we all share. Here are some practical ways to cut down on the smoke you produce and help keep our communities healthier:

1. Burn the Right Wood

  • Use dry, seasoned wood. Split and store wood for at least 6 months and aim for less than 20% moisture. Use a moisture meter to check.

  • Cut and split it right. Make sure logs fit easily in your stove—about 3 inches shorter than the firebox—and no more than 6 inches wide.

  • Store it smart. Keep wood off the ground and protected from rain. Cover the top but leave the sides open to let air circulate.

  • Start fires with softwood kindling. Pine or fir catch quickly, burn hot, and create less smoke.

2. Use Cleaner Heating Options

  • Switch to cleaner appliances. EPA-certified wood or pellet stoves burn more efficiently and produce less smoke. Or switch to a heat pump or gas stove if possible.

  • Upgrade your home. Add insulation and weatherstripping to use less heat overall.

  • Maintain your stove. Clean your chimney regularly and have your stove inspected annually for safety and efficiency.

  • Check out local stove replacement programs through the Colville Tribes or Okanogan County to replace older, non-certified stoves at no cost.

If you have an old, non-EPA-certified wood stove, check out the Colville Tribes’ no-cost replacement program and the Okanogan County wood stove replacement program.

3. Burn Smart

  • Only burn when needed. Avoid using your stove on smoky or still-air days.

  • Respect burn bans. Ecology issues burn bans off-Reservation; on-Reservation, voluntary curtailment is encouraged during poor air quality- unless wood is your only heat source or your income is below 1.5x the federal poverty level.

  • Don’t burn garbage. Never burn household waste, treated lumber, plastics, rubber, or anything that gives off harmful fumes.

  • Dispose of yard waste the right way. Take green waste to the Okanogan County Landfill—it’s free!

  • Chip your wood rather than burn it.

Smoke has no boundaries!

What you burn can affect your neighbors. Let’s all do our part to reduce smoke and protect the air we breathe—together.