Lawsuit Over Wood-burning Fireplace Ban

Wood-burning fireplaces generate 40 percent of the Bay Area's small particulate matter in winter. Wood smoke also causesproblems for people with asthma and contributes dioxin pollutants. Palo Alta is one of the latest among Bay Area cities that have a wood-burning fireplace ban.California Hearths and Homes, an industry group of masonry fireplace designers, architects andmanufacturers, is suing the city for its ban on wood-burning fireplaces saying it "denies manufacturers the opportunity to meet airemission standards."