Report a burn

If the burn you are reporting is a land clearing or commercial burn, contact the conservation officer and leave a message.

For all other burns contact your local fire department:

Neighbourly Notification Program

What can we do?

We have drafted a series of form letters that will be sent out by the SCCAS advising the people responsible for the smoke that neighbours have asked the SCCAS to send this letter to inform the person about the consequences of their burning methods. The letter will also include greener and healthier alternatives to the burning methods they are using, educational information about the health hazards, and links and contacts where they can access more information.

Your personal information will not be released. Just send us an e mail to notification@cleanaironthecoast.com included your neighbour's address, including postal code and name, if possible. Tell us what type of burning is causing the issue and we will send a letter to them within 2 days.

From our blog

• Removing one ton of black carbon will have the same effect as removing 2,000 to 3,000 tons of CO2
  
  Posted: Tue November 24, 2009 How bad is wood burning on climate change?
  
  "removing one ton of black carbon will have the same [climate] effect as removing 2,000 to 3,000 tons of CO2," says climatologist Veerabhadran Ramanathan of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
  
  This is one reason why the Clean Air Society is strongly opposed to any unnecessary wood burning.
  
  
  Source:
  http://www.newsweek.com/id/220552/page/3
  
  
• Progress and more progress for the SCCAS
  
  Posted: Fri June 26, 2009 Tymax Industries has been approved for a curtain burner to be located near Sechelt. They have advised us that they will not be proceeding with the burner and will instead grind and compost or ship out wood waste generated from the mine site. This will alleviate concerns about smoke from the curtain burner as well as drastically reduce or eliminate the smoke that has been produced in the past. We are meeting with Tymax on June 26 to hear about their plans to dispose of biomass responsibly.
  
  We are currently working on proposals for bylaw changes for all areas of the Coast and should have a presentation ready in July. These changes will address all outdoor burning.
  
  We received a corporate donation of $1,000 this month and we have received a grant of $2,400 for the Wood Stove change out program and expect more grant money for the program in the Fall. We have done some advertising in the local papers which has increased our profile and membership. The District of Sechelt has asked to work with us on the wood stove program. We will be sending out a brochure to all residents of the Sunshine Coast advertising the program. We plan to do this in conjunction with a fireplace dealer.
  
  There was a presentation to the District of Sechelt Committee of the Whole on June 10, 2009 by Heather Waddell under the banner of the SCCAS, concentrated on the smoke pollution that comes from land clearing and development. It touched on serious lung health issues, the topography of the area and confusion over open burning regulations. The result was a recommendation "that staff, in consultation with the Chief of the Sechelt Volunteer Fire Department, prepare a report on potential amendments to the Backyard Burning Bylaw to restrict land clearing burns." It is hoped that other concerned stakeholders will have a say, perhaps by forming a working committee.
  
  
• Howe Sound Pulp and Paper Mill is burning plastic
  
  Posted: Sun February 08, 2009 This is an article from the Coast Reporter on Howe Sound Pulp and Paper Mill burning plastic:
  
  Burning plastic raises concern
  
  Howe Sound Pulp and Paper (HSPP) is burning plastic, but it is not burning added recyclable plastic as suggested in a report by a Lower Mainland media outlet earlier in the week, said Al Strang, manager of environment and external relations for HSPP.
  Strang said the plant has been burning wood waste that contains less than four per cent plastic for about three years.
  
  "We believe that we have all of the necessary permits to burn the fuel we are getting," Strang said. "It is plastic that is attached to the wood, vapor barrier type plastic, found in construction sites."
  
  Strang was definitive in his answer when he said HSPP has not, is not and has no plans to burn wood waste with added, recyclable plastic such as yogurt containers and milk jugs. While Urban Wood Waste, the Lower Mainland company that supplies the product, does add plastics for another company, HSPP does not receive that mix.
  
  "There is less than four per cent plastic in one barge a week that accounts for one seventh of the total wood strain [burned]," said Strang. Strang said the fuel is used to generate heat and electricity at HSPP and because the mill cannot get all the fuel they need to burn right here on the Coast, they bring in about 20 per cent a year from Urban Wood Waste.
  
  Strang also said he has put no more effort since last October into a proposed partnership to build a thermal power plant to incinerate garbage. Dan Bouman, executive director of the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association, said he received several phone calls this week after residents heard about the news story. He said he contacted Strang to ensure that the Coast community, that is so dedicated to recycling, were not having plastics burned at HSPP.
  
  "I got a statement from Al Strang and I accept that. I believe him," Bouman said.
  
  Critics like Louis Legal, a member of the Sunshine Coast Clean Air Society and Sunshine Coast Council of Senior Citizens of B.C. co-chair, argue the burning of all plastic is hazardous to the environment.
  
  Legal said he was not aware that HSPP was burning any plastic.
  
  "The issues are, of course, air pollution from burning plastics and the disposal of the residual ash from the burning process … it requires more investigation," said Legal.
  
  Dion Whyte, manager of sustainable services for the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD), sent an email to directors to share with constituents that had Strang’s information regarding plastic burning at HSPP.
  
  While not incorrect, the information from the original news story was understood by several local people, who contacted the SCRD and Coast Reporter, to mean that HSPP was burning added recyclables.
  
  In his message, Whyte wrote: "Monitoring of emissions from HSPP’s facility continues to be the responsibility of the provincial government. Emissions from the facility must not exceed permitted levels. No recyclable materials from recycling programs on the Sunshine Coast (or anywhere else) are being burned as fuel at HSPP."
  
  The Sunshine Coast Clean Air Society was putting together an official statement regarding the matter, but did not submit it to Coast Reporter by deadline Thursday morning. The Ministry of Environment was also contacted, but no official statement was given to Coast Reporter.
  
  
  Here's a link to the original article
  
  
• Drop in U.S. air pollution linked to longer lifespans
  
  Posted: Wed January 21, 2009 Here's one reason why the Clean Air Society exists - to extend the length and quality of lives.
  
  Americans are living longer because the air they breathe is getting cleaner, a new study suggests. The average drop in pollution seen across 51 metropolitan areas between 1980 and 2000 appears to have added nearly five more months to people's lives, according to a study published Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine.
  
  Residents of cities that did the best job cleaning up air pollution showed the biggest jump in life span; for example, Pittsburgh's clearer air meant people there could expect to live nearly 10 months longer.
  
  "Here's a situation where we say, 'We think that improving our air quality should improve health and life expectancy,' and so we did it, in many cities more so than others," says lead researcher C. Arden Pope III, Ph.D., of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. "We wait a couple of decades and see if it really helps, and the answer is that it did, and that's good news."
  
  Long-term exposure to dirty air -- specifically, the tiny specks known as fine-particulate air pollution -- shortens lives and contributes to cardiovascular and lung disease. Particulate matter is inhaled almost like a gas and is thought to hike blood pressure, heart attack risk, and the chance of heart disease-related death.
  
  The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology recommends that heart patients avoid driving for two to three weeks after leaving the hospital to avoid pollution (and stress). Other research has suggested that a nonsmoker living in a polluted city has about the same risk of dying of heart disease as a former smoker. Health.com: 5 ways to keep pollution from harming your heart
  
  Gas and diesel engines, coal-fired plants, steel mills, smelters, refineries, and other industrial processes involving burning at high temperatures produce these particles, which are no bigger than 2.5 microns across -- or about one-fortieth the diameter of a human hair. "Those are the ones that can penetrate deeply into the lungs and cause most of the health problems," says Pope.
  
  The Clean Air Act of 1970 set nationwide air quality standards and motor-vehicle emissions standards for the first time, and the federal government and some states have continued to take steps to tackle air pollution. Health.com: Both indoor and outdoor pollutants linked to heart problems
  
  Thanks to these efforts, U.S. air quality has improved. Pope and his team decided to use U.S. data on fine-particulate matter concentrations and life expectancy from the late 1970s and the late 1990s as a "natural experiment" to determine whether cleaner air had any effect on health.
  
  They plotted pollution data for 1979-1983 against 1978-1982 life expectancies for 217 counties within 51 metropolitan areas around the country. Then they compared 1999-2000 pollution data with 1997-2001 life expectancies. Finally, they looked at how changes in life expectancy related to changes in air pollution for both time periods. Health.com: 10 risk factors for heart disease
  
  Many other factors can boost life expectancy, such as increases in income and education and reductions in smoking prevalence, so the researchers used statistical techniques to control for these and other relevant factors. After this adjustment, they found that the effect of air pollution reduction remained; for every 10 microgram per cubic meter decrease in fine-particulate air pollution, life expectancies rose by about seven months. Pollution levels averaged about 21 micrograms per cubic meter in 1979-1983 and had fallen to an average of 14 micrograms per cubic meter by 1999-2000.
  
  Life expectancy for the corresponding time periods rose from 74 years to 77 years. Pope and his team calculate that reductions in air pollution accounted for as much as 15 percent of the increase in life expectancy. Heath.com: Heart Quiz: What's your real risk?
  
  READ FULL ARTICLE HERE: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/01/21/healthmag.airpollution.lifespan/index.html
  
  SOURCE: CNN
  
  
• Lee Turnbull (area F candidate) views on open burning
  
  Posted: Fri October 31, 2008 Thank you for the opportunity to clarify my intentions related to improving air quality on the Sunshine Coast. I look forward to seeing these comments on your website.
  
  I am very supportive of the Clean Air Society's efforts to promote clean air in our community. I voted to have Areas D, E, and F support the Gibsons Green Waste Site with tax contributions in order to encourage all south end residents to use alternatives to burning their green waste. I voted to give grant in aid funding to the Clean Air Society to promote their educational efforts, and to advertise the Green Waste site. I have also voted for the Roberts Creek Smoke Control Bylaw, and will be following the progress made in efforts to reduce burning within that fire protection district.
  
  Lee Turnbull
  Director
  Area F West Howe Sound
  
  
  
  
• Garry Nohr (area B candidate) views on open burning
  
  Posted: Fri October 31, 2008 Will be following the Roberts Creek bylaw and the Provincial guidelines – I have already had a community meeting on burning with a small turnout. I intend to take the Roberts Creek bylaw and see how it fits for Halfmoon Bay and if it is better or worse than the new provincial guidelines. A new burning bylaw will be part of the next term.
  
  Garry Nohr
  Director Halfmoon Bay (Area B)
  
  
  
• Lorne Lewis (Area E candidate) views on open burning
  
  Posted: Fri October 31, 2008 I supported the Roberts Creek Burning by law while it made its way through the SCRD committee and board process. What was discussed at the time was that if this by law was possible to implement then other areas could move towards their own burning by laws. For a by law to be successful it must have the respect of the public and be practical to enforce. As you might guess burning is a divisive issue in Elphinstone and considerable public consultation will be necessary for the prospective by law to gain popular support. It is topical to say that, after some waiting , that the Province is getting tougher on large burns... an action which I endorse and intend to see enforced in Elphinstone.
  
  This was done in Roberts Creek, and the intention is to model our Elphinstone process after it. The result in Roberts Creek appears to have public acceptance of the process and we look forward to see how implementation goes. Our volunteer fire departments don't have the resources to enforce such by laws so that job will fall on the shoulders our by law enforcement officers.
  
  So what I can promise is a fair and open process in working towards a by law. As the process in Roberts Creek lead toward a "made in Roberts Creek" solution, ours will be a "made in Elphinstone" solution. In the mean time I will encourage residents to use the green waste facility or to compost rather than burn. In Elphinstone we support the green waste facility on Henry Road through our taxes and many of our residents use it. I have brought this up at many Elphinstone Electors meetings and in a number of flyers, I will continue to support the use of this facility and to encourage residents not to burn.
  
  Thank you for this opportunity.
  
  Lorne Lewis
  SCRD Director for Elphinstone
  
  
• Frances Wasserlein (Area B candidate) views on open burning
  
  Posted: Fri October 31, 2008 Thanks for asking for my response to Halfmoon Bay & Secret Cove residents concerns about outdoor burning. Here is my response:
  
  I am concerned with the issue of air quality, especially particulate matter in the air. I support the limitation that outdoor burning occur only twice per year for a one week period when conditions are appropriate and that burning of toxic materials be banned along with burning of construction materials.
  
  I do, however, have difficulty with limiting outdoor burning to properties one hectare or larger in Halfmoon Bay and Secret Cove. Where composting leaves and other yard waste is not appropriate we need to find a solution for the vast majority of the smaller properties in our area.
  
  Consequently, I want to encourage further discussion with the residents of Halfmoon Bay and Secret Cove to explore alternates to burning yard waste on standard-sized properties. Perhaps we can find agreement to having yard waste picked-up twice per year as part of our garbage collection services, thus greatly reducing the need to burn yard waste altogether.
  
  Frances Wasserlein
  Candidate
  Area B - Halfmoon Bay BC
  Sunshine Coast Regional District Board
  Municipal Elections - Voting Day - Saturday, 15 November 2008
  
  
  
• Robert Corlett (Area E Candidate) views on open burning
  
  Posted: Sun October 26, 2008 Robert Corlett Area E Candidate
  
  Elphinstone is a community that places high value on protecting its rural character.
  
  As the elected Director for Area E it would be my job to reflect the wishes of the majority of its citizens. When going door to door we have had several discussions on burning.
  
  You may be interested in these comments and questions from Area E residents, which I have noted as I visit the constituency door to door:
  
  Why is untreated dimension lumber included as Construction Waste if it is clear of additives?
  
  Toxic materials, why would anyone intentionally burn these with today's knowledge? The greater community appears ready to accept a ban on this.
  
  There is confusion between "Class B Burn Pile" and "Outdoor Fire."
  
  People are unwilling to give up their right to have an outdoor fire for their enjoyment and heat their homes with wood. People are concerned that this is the thin end of the wedge that will eventually see them unable to enjoy their chosen lifestyle.
  
  
  
  Education is an important part in changing how we think. When we had our present property cleared thirty years ago the contractor used tires and diesel to light the stump piles. I would not allow this today.
  
  The majority of the population will respect the need of a few who have severe reaction to smoke when educated. Politeness goes a long way with most of us. I personally suffer severe headaches when exposed to perfumes, the smell from the heated paving oil that B A Blacktop stores uphill from my family, and excessive vehicle fumes. The management of B A Blacktop has been unwilling to meet with me to discuss how the situation could be improved. Every person that knows my reaction to perfume makes a conscious effort not to wear perfume around me. This was accomplished by having respectful conversations with them and giving consideration to there right to wear perfume. I had to stop attending Cap College because the closed circulation system made perfume ubiquitous throughout the building.
  
  Am I in favour of implementing bylaw No. 598 for Elphinstone?
  
  Not in its present form. From the comments and concerns that I am hearing going door to door it needs tweaking. There needs to be more education to have greater acceptance. There needs to be education and provision of methods to handle green waste instead of burning. If elected I will have public meetings on this issue to work towards finding a solution that respects the needs of the citizens of our community. I suspect that with proper education and provision of services we could end up with a bylaw that could further restrict burning and still allow outdoor fires and wood heat for our homes.
  
  When I look at section 4 of the bylaw I have to wonder why a large property (1hectare plus) would need to burn green materials? You are welcome to come see the composting piles on our property, they are un-obtrusive and create tonnes of organic material for our gardens. We have been composting in this manner for thirty years and have had no problems. I think that section 4 of the Roberts Creek bylaw could be tougher once people understand its purpose and have a doable alternative.
  
  Director Sugar has led the way, and it is time to head in this direction.
  
  Leaning how to have a fire that creates less smoke is a constant learning curve. It is only in the last few years that I have gone to burning hotter fires that are built top down and without paper to start. Could I be further educated? Absolutely, could I further improve my burning habits? Absolutely, I will listen.
  
  Thank you for eliciting a response from the candidates. The Sunshine Coast Clean Air Society does a great job of educating in a polite way that may not elicite change as fast as some would like, but the goal of cleaner air is being achieved. Now if we could only work on banning perfume.
  
  
  
  Rob Corlett
  
  Candidate for Area E
  
  
• Ask the candidates
  
  Posted: Sun October 26, 2008 On October 18, 2008 the SCCAS sent the following email to all the candidates of the SCRD:
  
  

  Greetings;
  
  The following article was published in the Coast Reporter in early June, 2008. Donna Shugar's proposed changes to the open burning bylaw will be in effect in Area D on January 1, 2009.
  
  The bylaw can be viewed on the SCRD website or: http://www.scrd.ca/files/File/Bylaws/598-Roberts-Creek-Smoke-3rd-reading.pdf
  
  It is our belief that this bylaw should be in place for all residents of the SCRD. We would like to know your position. We ask that you provide a written response to this email, stating your position as to whether you will adopt the same bylaw for your area and if not, what do you intend to do to improve air quality on the Sunshine Coast.
  
  All responses will be posted on the Sunshine Coast Clean Air Society website http://www.cleanaironthecoast.com
  
  Please respond (reply to this email) no later than October 31, 2008.
  
  Thank you for your cooperation,
  
  From the Board of the Sunshine Coast Clean AIr Society
  
  CLEAN AIR NEWS
  
  Kudos to SCRD Staff for working on the proposed burning bylaw, for the Roberts Creek Area mentioned in the Coast Reporter on June 6, 2008. Donna Shugar, Director for Roberts Creek (Area D) has been immeasurably effective in advocating for this cause and bringing about essential change.
  
  As noted the proposed bylaw will allow ONLY properties larger than one hectare to have a burn and ONLY twice a year for legal backyard burns (one in April and one in the fall). We hope that Donna's work will encourage Directors from Areas F (West Howe Sound), E (Elphinstone), A (Egmont-Pender Harbour) and Area B (Halfmoon Bay) to also support changes to the burning bylaw.
  
  As residents of the beautiful Sunshine Coast, WE ALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO BREATHE CLEAN AIR. If you support clean air practices, please contact your AREA DIRECTOR to advocate for change!
  
  The Board of the Sunshine Coast Clean Air Society

  
  
  The following are the responses we have received so far from our candidates:
  
  AREA B
  Gary Nohr
  Frances Wasserlein
  
  AREA E
  Robert Corlett
  Lorne Lewis
  
  AREA F
  Lee Turnbull
  
  
• Black Carbon Pollution Emerges As Major Player In Global Warming
  
  Posted: Fri August 22, 2008 Black carbon, a form of particulate air pollution most often produced from biomass burning, cooking with solid fuels and diesel exhaust, has a warming effect in the atmosphere three to four times greater than prevailing estimates, according to scientists in an upcoming review article in the journal Nature Geoscience.
  
  Soot in the higher latitudes of the Earth, where ice is more common, absorbs more of the sun's energy and warmth than an icy, white background. Black carbon, or soot, absorbs sunlight, while lighter colored ice reflects sunlight.
  
  Soot in areas with snow and ice may play an important role in climate change. Also, if snow and ice-covered areas begin melting, the warming effect increases, as the soot becomes more concentrated on the snow surface. "This provides a positive feedback (i.e. warming); as glaciers and ice sheets melt, they tend to get even dirtier," said Dr James Hansen.
  
  Elimination of black carbon, a contributor to global warming and a public health hazard, offers a nearly instant return on investment, the researchers said. Black carbon particles only remain airborne for weeks at most compared to carbon dioxide, which remains in the atmosphere for more than a century. In addition, technology that could substantially reduce black carbon emissions already exists in the form of commercially available products.
  
  Here's some articles on this topic:
  Black Carbon Pollution Emerges As Major Player In Global Warming
  Black soot and snow:
  A warmer combination
  
  
  
• Report on the Halfmoon Bay Backyard Burning Forum
  
  Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 There was a backyard burning forum in Halfmoon Bay on May 7 hosted by Gary Nohr (SCRD Director for Halfmoon Bay). In attendance were Paul Fenwick (General Manager of Community Services for the SCRD), Murray Smith (Conservation Officer), Greg Phelps (Halfmoon Bay Fire Chief), Donna Shugar (SCRD Director for Roberts Creek) and about 14 Halfmoon Bay residents.
  
  The officials each gave a brief talk about their role in the air pollution arena. The residents then split into 2 groups to discuss the issue of back yard burning.
  
  Most residents in attendance were opposed to back yard burning and would be prepared to pay increased taxes to facilitate alternatives. Some of the people in favor of burning, were in favor of some change to the bylaw. One couple said they only burned branches once per year after they had cured them under a tarp for the summer season. There seemed to be an understanding from the people in favor of burning that the smoke was a problem and should be kept to a minimum. There was also a willingness to stop burning if appropriate alternatives were offered.
  
  Gary Nohr will take the information gleaned from this meeting and publish the results in his upcoming newsletter. In summary, there was an obvious will from the residents in attendance to change the BYB bylaw and Gary Nohr seems to be willing to do this if the will is there.
  
  There was lots of reference to the SCCAS at the meeting so we are obviously making some impact.
  
  There were also comments about the runaround given to residents trying to report illegal back yard burns. This has been an ongoing issue with the answering service who, despite having been instructed otherwise, continue to discourage reporting. If you are reporting a violation in Halfmoon Bay, DO NOT let the answering service discourage you! When they start to ask you questions, just say, "Have Mr. Phelps call me", and leave your number. If you don't get a response, please e mail the SCCAS and we will contact Mr. Phelps directly.
  
  
• An (Un) Neighbourly Nuisance, by Michael Jessen
  
  Posted: Sat April 22, 2006 click here to read - pdf
  
  
• District of Sechelt: Bylaw 446, 2005 to Prohibit Backyard Burning.
  
  Posted: Wed February 22, 2006 Now what is allowed, and what is prohibited!
  
  Burning Bylaw 446 PDF
  
  
  
  

Other resources on this topic

• BC Air Quality
• Open burns on the Sunshine Coast: Photo gallery
• Model Municipal Bylaw for Regulating Backyard Burning (PDF: 2.5mb)
• Ventilation index for the Sunshine Coast/Central Vancouver Island area
• Presentation: Outdoor Burning in Rural Areas: A fresh Approach (pdf)

News on this topic from around North America

• Open burning (The Powell River Peak)
  
  Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:05:43 GMT City of Powell River council voted at the March 4 meeting to lift the moratorium on the sale of open burning permits.
• Outdoor burning ban to go into effect soon (WWTI Watertown)
  
  Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:38:29 GMT         State DEC Commissioner Peter Grannis is reminding small communities that all residential brush burning is prohibited between March 15th - May 15th.         Open burning is the largest single cause of wildfires in New York State.The DEC's Forrest Protection Division says that debris burning accounted for  about 40% of all wildfires between 1986 - and 2006. In addition, from 2000 to 2007 ...
• Company tried to block attempt to fight bushfires (The Star)
  
  Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:19:03 GMT MIRI: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan on Thursday said that a private company here was alleged to have refused to allow firemen from extinguishing bushfires on its land.
• Company Accused Of Blocking Attempt To Fight Bushfires (Bernama)
  
  Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:00:44 GMT MIRI, March 11 (Bernama) -- Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan on Thursday revealed that a private company here was alleged to have refused to allow firemen from extinguishing bushfires on its land.
• COMPANY ACCUSED OF BLOCKING ATTEMPT TO FIGHT BUSHFIRES (Bernama via Yahoo! Malaysia News)
  
  Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:45:36 GMT MIRI, March 11 (Bernama) -- Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan today revealed that a private company here was alleged to have refused to allow firemen from extinguishing bushfires on its land.
• Farmers defy open burning ban (The Star)
  
  Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:34:14 GMT MIRI: Unscrupulous people, especially illegal farmers, squatters and plantation owners, are blatantly defying the state government’s ban on open burning that was imposed last week.
• Sarawak Imposes Immediate Ban On Open Burning (MalaysiaNews.net)
  
  Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:49:12 GMT "; set_background(""); return txt; } // Sets the background picture, padding and lots more. :) function ol_content_background(text, picture, hasfullhtml) els...
• Sarawak bans open burning (Malaysian Mirror)
  
  Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:55:43 GMT KUCHING – Sarawak has imposed an immediate ban on open burning during the current dry spell in view of the recurrent haze, which has engulfed Miri. Deputy Chief Minister George Chan said today the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) had revoked 10 open-burning permits - three each in Sibu and Mukah, Miri (two) and one each in Kuching and Sarikei - where open burning by plantations ...
• Sarawak bans open burning (Malaysian Mirror)
  
  Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:47:11 GMT KUCHING – Sarawak has imposed an immediate ban on open burning during the current dry spell in view of the recurrent haze, which has engulfed Miri.
• Sarawak Imposes Immediate Ban On Open Burning (Bernama)
  
  Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:45:26 GMT KUCHING, March 3 (Bernama) -- The Sarawak government has imposed an immediate ban on open burning during the current dry spell in view the recurrence of the haze which has engulfed Miri.