Dear Editor:
Your Jan. 11 edition’s front-page story, “Fireplaces have to go?” by Theresa McManus, was very well done.
Steve Norman, a fellow New Wester with four fireplaces (I only have one) said some convincing, eloquent, common sense things, two examples of which are: “…studies show New Westminster is already below the air quality proposals that Metro Vancouver is aiming to achieve by 2023”; and “what are you going to do about all the other atmospheric causes? Fireplaces, I think, are a minor part of it.”
I know my fireplace is dirty. However, is it significantly toxic enough to deprive me of its use, for which, like most humans, I harbour a primal affection? Here I openly state my bias toward Mr. Norman and his four hearths (oh, the envy!).
Now that my bias is revealed, let’s look at just a few comments from Julie Saxton, the Metro Vancouver air quality specialist who has raised this wood burning fireplace elimination issue.
Ms. Saxton repeats “fine particulate matter” several times, with ominous inflection, but never explains what that is. Since these particulates are from wood, perhaps she means carbon, which contributes to a greener and healthier landscape (that’s why fires are actually good for a forest).
I’m no scientist, but I’d far rather stand next to a wood fire than the belching stack of an 18-wheeler. Ms. Saxton also says that “open hearth fireplaces are emitting 10 times more particulates per hour than other sources.”
Does that mean all other sources? Or perhaps a single source, such as, say, just one of those big trucks that are ubiquitous on the roads? I would think, other than being parked for maintenance, that a single truck is belching pretty much 24-7-365, while my fireplace fumes once or twice a month for two hours in the winter.
Ms. Saxton relates that fireplaces cause “pretty significant” emissions. How pretty? How significant? What emissions, exactly? OK, enough of my layman reactions to Ms. Saxton’s expert opinions.
I think it best to let two people quoted in your article conclude my observations and opinions here.
First, Kathleen Langstroth, president of the Queen’s Park Residence Association: “Langstroth believes the proposed regulations could be an issue for New Westminster residents because of the large number of heritage houses in the city.” I completely agree.
Second, Julie Saxton: “It’s been hard to convince people to believe the data.” Again, I completely agree.
So, at least for now, the fireplace police will have to pry my New Westminster hearth from my cold, dead, Great White North Canadian fingers.
Don Boutin is a New Westminster resident.
