Smudging a Winter Scene

There is nothing like a crackling wood fire to kindle a mood of romance and nostalgia in the American soul. But even when it comes to a hearty blaze on a chill winter eve, nostalgia isn’t what it used to be. One of the next edicts from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will be a regulation to control pollution from wood stoves and fireplace inserts.

The energy crises of the 1970s generated a wood-fire fad in the United States as homeowners banked their costly furnaces that were fired with oil at cartel prices, or natural gas at the equivalent, and stoked the firebox with chopped fuel. A new industry developed in stove manufacturing, wood cutting, artificial fire logs, bundled firewood on sale at the supermarket and even chimney sweeps. The stove’s popularity persisted even when oil prices plummeted, and even in moderate climates such as ours in Southern California.

All this romance, nostalgia and industry has a price, of course. The placid winter scene has become smudged with wood-smoke smog that includes some carcinogenic pollutants and fine particulate matter that can cause respiratory problems. Several states, including Oregon, have imposed controls on stoves, and EPA will propose such rules early next year. Many new models of stoves and fireplace inserts will have to be equipped with catalytic converters, like those on automobiles, to recycle and reburn the smoke to rid it of the more harmful side effects.

The rules, alas, are necessary and should be supported. Perhaps the fire will still blaze as brightly and flicker as gaily. But will Santa Claus be able to squeeze by all those catalytic converters and still get everything delivered on time?