Do you have a fire pit, chiminea or tabletop fireplace? Whether you know it or not, the smoke from your outdoor fire is spreading and can aggravate symptoms of asthma or other health concerns for your neighbors. Wood smoke contains air toxics and contributes to high levels of fine particulate pollution. Because they impact our health, outdoor fires are regulated in Allegheny County. This applies to burning of any kind.

Open burning is prohibited except by permit or when it is done in a manner which contributes a negligible amount of air contaminants meaning:

• No material other than clean wood, propane, or natural gas may be burned EXCEPT for commercially available fire logs, paraffin logs, or wood pellets.
• Paper or commercial smokeless fire starters for the purposes of starting a fire
• Charcoal for the preparation of food only
• Fires may be no larger than 3-feet wide by 3-feet long by 2-feet high.
• Fires must be at least 15 feet from the nearest neighbor's dwelling or inhabited area including the property line, roadway, sidewalk, or other public access area.

All wood burning activities are prohibited on Air Quality Action days, with the exception of burning for the commercial preparation of food. If you notice a smokey fire or nuisance burning, call Allegheny County Health Department’s 24-Hour Complaint Line at 412-687-2243 or submit a complaint at https://alleghenycounty.mycusthelp.com.