It's going to be another smoky hell of an evening in North St. Paul, MN.
4:45 PM: Faint wood smoke. Someone is burning wood. I'm not sure who. I went around the block to try and find the source. I couldn't located the polluter. I know that it is someone in this row of houses.
5:15 PM: Light wood smoke. The air pollution is getting heavier.
6:00 PM: Light wood smoke continues.
6:30 PM: Moderate wood smoke. Air pollution is heavier still.
Recreational Fires Must Be Eliminated
Every day in this city several people are having recreational fires. The air is constantly filled with the stench of burning wood. I am one person sick and tired of breathing smoky air every day. Is it too much to ask to be able to breathe fresh air in your own home?
If you are considering purchasing real estate in the city of North Saint Paul, Minnesota (55109), factor this blog carefully into your decision. Buying a home in this city means that your kids will breathe smoky air while playing in the yard almost every day. Your baby will breathe smoky air in her crib should you leave the windows open around your house. If you leave your windows open you will wake up in the middle of the night choking on smoky air.
Perhaps worst of all, your utility rates will be high because you will have to run the air conditioner instead of leaving the windows open on a cool summer evening. You have no other choice because almost every night the air is too smoky to breathe in this city. Consider this blog your warning.
North St. Paul, Minnesota, is a wonderful community other than the wood smoke. If we could restore fresh air like we used to enjoy, life would be happy again.
Tell others about this blog!
If you are considering purchasing real estate in the city of North Saint Paul, Minnesota (55109), factor this blog carefully into your decision. Buying a home in this city means that your kids will breathe smoky air while playing in the yard almost every day. Your baby will breathe smoky air in her crib should you leave the windows open around your house. If you leave your windows open you will wake up in the middle of the night choking on smoky air.
Perhaps worst of all, your utility rates will be high because you will have to run the air conditioner instead of leaving the windows open on a cool summer evening. You have no other choice because almost every night the air is too smoky to breathe in this city. Consider this blog your warning.
North St. Paul, Minnesota, is a wonderful community other than the wood smoke. If we could restore fresh air like we used to enjoy, life would be happy again.
Tell others about this blog!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Thursday 07/09/2009 Air Pollution
There is never a day without wood smoke pollution in the city of North St. Paul, MN. You have to love smoky air in order to be happy living in this city.
4:30 PM: Faint wood smoke blowing in on the breeze. I noticed it coming in the window as I watched TV.
5:30 PM: Faint wood smoke continues.
7:45 PM: Faint to light wood smoke. Cloudy, looks like rain, 79 degrees.
At this time I went for a cruise around the northern section of the city. I discovered that the wood smoke we were smelling was coming from 18th & Margaret. It was very smoky a few houses east of Margaret. I could not locate the fire. I didn't think that wood smoke from this area would make it as far away as we are. But it does. Wood smoke goes wherever the wind blows it. Light rain mist occurred during this time.
Grass burning
I smelled burning grass on Longview. It was coming from someone on this street or the houses behind it on Navajo. I know there is a grass burner around here.
I also smelled burning grass at 2nd & Shoshone. I saw someone on the corner out in his backyard with his garage door open. I don't know if he was the one burning grass. It was really strong right in front of his house.
I also smelled some sort of smoke at 19th & 1st. It was gone when I went back around the block a couple of minutes later.
10:00 PM: No wood smoke where we are.
11:00 PM: No wood smoke where we are. The air does have a sulfur smell to it. This is coming from the industrial section of town.
Midnight: No wood smoke. Sulfur smell continues.
Nobody around us was burning this evening. The only wood smoke was blowing in on the wind from 18th & Margaret.
4:30 PM: Faint wood smoke blowing in on the breeze. I noticed it coming in the window as I watched TV.
5:30 PM: Faint wood smoke continues.
7:45 PM: Faint to light wood smoke. Cloudy, looks like rain, 79 degrees.
At this time I went for a cruise around the northern section of the city. I discovered that the wood smoke we were smelling was coming from 18th & Margaret. It was very smoky a few houses east of Margaret. I could not locate the fire. I didn't think that wood smoke from this area would make it as far away as we are. But it does. Wood smoke goes wherever the wind blows it. Light rain mist occurred during this time.
Grass burning
I smelled burning grass on Longview. It was coming from someone on this street or the houses behind it on Navajo. I know there is a grass burner around here.
I also smelled burning grass at 2nd & Shoshone. I saw someone on the corner out in his backyard with his garage door open. I don't know if he was the one burning grass. It was really strong right in front of his house.
I also smelled some sort of smoke at 19th & 1st. It was gone when I went back around the block a couple of minutes later.
10:00 PM: No wood smoke where we are.
11:00 PM: No wood smoke where we are. The air does have a sulfur smell to it. This is coming from the industrial section of town.
Midnight: No wood smoke. Sulfur smell continues.
Nobody around us was burning this evening. The only wood smoke was blowing in on the wind from 18th & Margaret.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Wednesday 07/08/2009 Air Pollution
There was plenty of wood smoke in North St. Paul, MN, this evening. A nice breeze kept it from accumulating in one spot. But the wind carried it far and wide -- right into our faces.
7:00 PM: Faint to light wood smoke where I am.
8:00 PM: Faint wood smoke. You can't smell much of it, but you notice it when it gets in your house.
8:30 - 9:30 PM: I went looking for jackasses recreationally polluting the air. I located only two bonfires but found pockets of wood smoke in a few areas. Nobody around me was burning wood this evening -- a rarity. The wood smoke we smelled was drifting in on the breeze.
Bonfires I located
1) Lake Blvd. & Poplar Ave.: I saw a bonfire in the backyard of the first or second house in from the corner on the north side of the street. I could not determine which house it was because the fire was very near the property line. City Council member Bob Bruton lives only a few doors up from that bonfire. If he's home tonight, I hope he has his windows open. Breathe deeply, Mr. Bruton. We want those wood smoke carcinogens to go deep into your lungs. I should offer to buy those recreational polluters some free firewood. If we have to breathe smoky air every day, Bruton should, too.
The household having the bonfire also appeared to be shooting off fireworks of questionable legality. I am no pyrotechnician, but they looked like roman candles. If Bruton was any kind of law and order man, he would call the police on those people.
2) 19th Ave. & Reardon Place: I saw a small bonfire at the second house west from the corner of Reardon on 19th., a white house. It was smoky over there. It was smoky over there last night, too. They could possibly have been burning last night, too.
Smoky areas
3 & 4) Light wood smoke at Helen St. & Helen Ct. and also on the other side of the block on Lake Blvd. at the same spot. I could not locate the source of this wood smoke. City Council member Jan Walczak lives right at that spot. I hope she had her windows open. Breathe deep, Ms. Walczak. Wood smoke contains carcinogens, soot, ash, and other toxic chemicals. The deeper those carcinogens can get into your lungs, the more damage they can do. Since you support recreational burning and force us to breathe smoky air every day, you deserve any ill health effects wood smoke can produce.
5) Very smoky on 18th Ave. between Charles and Margaret Streets. The smoke was heaviest closer to Margaret. I couldn't find the burner. Last year, Charles & 18th was sickeningly smoky every night. It isn't nearly as bad this year.
6) Helen St. & 15th Ave.: Small pocket of strong wood smoke here. Smoke was concentrated a few houses east of the intersection.
7) Tower Park: There must be a frequent burner around here. I couldn't find the source of the burning. The wood smoke seemed heaviest on 14th at E. 2nd St N.
10:30 PM: No wood smoke where I am. It's been a pretty weak day for wood smoke around our home this evening. Let's hope it stays that way.
There was no more wood smoke this evening where I live.
7:00 PM: Faint to light wood smoke where I am.
8:00 PM: Faint wood smoke. You can't smell much of it, but you notice it when it gets in your house.
8:30 - 9:30 PM: I went looking for jackasses recreationally polluting the air. I located only two bonfires but found pockets of wood smoke in a few areas. Nobody around me was burning wood this evening -- a rarity. The wood smoke we smelled was drifting in on the breeze.
Bonfires I located
1) Lake Blvd. & Poplar Ave.: I saw a bonfire in the backyard of the first or second house in from the corner on the north side of the street. I could not determine which house it was because the fire was very near the property line. City Council member Bob Bruton lives only a few doors up from that bonfire. If he's home tonight, I hope he has his windows open. Breathe deeply, Mr. Bruton. We want those wood smoke carcinogens to go deep into your lungs. I should offer to buy those recreational polluters some free firewood. If we have to breathe smoky air every day, Bruton should, too.
The household having the bonfire also appeared to be shooting off fireworks of questionable legality. I am no pyrotechnician, but they looked like roman candles. If Bruton was any kind of law and order man, he would call the police on those people.
2) 19th Ave. & Reardon Place: I saw a small bonfire at the second house west from the corner of Reardon on 19th., a white house. It was smoky over there. It was smoky over there last night, too. They could possibly have been burning last night, too.
Smoky areas
3 & 4) Light wood smoke at Helen St. & Helen Ct. and also on the other side of the block on Lake Blvd. at the same spot. I could not locate the source of this wood smoke. City Council member Jan Walczak lives right at that spot. I hope she had her windows open. Breathe deep, Ms. Walczak. Wood smoke contains carcinogens, soot, ash, and other toxic chemicals. The deeper those carcinogens can get into your lungs, the more damage they can do. Since you support recreational burning and force us to breathe smoky air every day, you deserve any ill health effects wood smoke can produce.
5) Very smoky on 18th Ave. between Charles and Margaret Streets. The smoke was heaviest closer to Margaret. I couldn't find the burner. Last year, Charles & 18th was sickeningly smoky every night. It isn't nearly as bad this year.
6) Helen St. & 15th Ave.: Small pocket of strong wood smoke here. Smoke was concentrated a few houses east of the intersection.
7) Tower Park: There must be a frequent burner around here. I couldn't find the source of the burning. The wood smoke seemed heaviest on 14th at E. 2nd St N.
10:30 PM: No wood smoke where I am. It's been a pretty weak day for wood smoke around our home this evening. Let's hope it stays that way.
There was no more wood smoke this evening where I live.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Tuesday 07/07/2009 Burning
12:30 AM: Faint wood smoke. Either the wood burning is just starting or a shift in wind direction is bringing the smoke to our home. Smoky air is here. This is why we have to close the windows every night in this city! 70 degrees.
1:30 AM: Extremely strong wood smoke. This is the worst smelling wood smoke I have experienced yet. It is so strong and powerful and packs a pungent ammonia-like punch. Anyone who left their windows open is waking up to a nasty surprise.
2:00 AM: Powerful stench of ammonia-like wood smoke continues.
3:30 AM: Powerful stench of ammonia-like wood smoke continues.
4:30 AM: Air is clearing.
5:00 AM: Faint wood smoke.
Had I not been off this week I would not have been up late enough to witness this air pollution. We cannot live like this. I will be asking my neighbors to call up the city council members to complain. I will make sure everyone in this city knows that the reason they have to breathe smoky air is because of the city council members who know about the problem but have not done a thing about it.
Yes, we are angry about this air pollution problem. We will take our fight to the people and let them decide if the current city council members are worthy of representing the interests of the community.
7:30 PM: Faint wood smoke. Clouds rolling in. Burners probably want to give us a dose of air pollution before the rain comes.
8:40 PM: Moderately heavy wood smoke.
9:00 PM: No wood smoke where I am. Must have been a shift in wind direction. I went out looking for wood smoke at this time. I noticed a faint trace of wood smoke in the vicinities of Shawnee & Chippewa, Reardon & 18th, and Helen & Polar. There was strong wood smoke at Helen & 19th concentrated at the intersection. It did not extend far beyond the intersection. Somebody did have a fire around there. I could not I locate the source of any of the wood smoke this evening. None of the frequent burners were burning when I was out.
10:00 PM: No wood smoke where I am.
10:30 PM: No wood smoke where I am. Bedtime.
1:30 AM: Extremely strong wood smoke. This is the worst smelling wood smoke I have experienced yet. It is so strong and powerful and packs a pungent ammonia-like punch. Anyone who left their windows open is waking up to a nasty surprise.
2:00 AM: Powerful stench of ammonia-like wood smoke continues.
3:30 AM: Powerful stench of ammonia-like wood smoke continues.
4:30 AM: Air is clearing.
5:00 AM: Faint wood smoke.
Had I not been off this week I would not have been up late enough to witness this air pollution. We cannot live like this. I will be asking my neighbors to call up the city council members to complain. I will make sure everyone in this city knows that the reason they have to breathe smoky air is because of the city council members who know about the problem but have not done a thing about it.
Yes, we are angry about this air pollution problem. We will take our fight to the people and let them decide if the current city council members are worthy of representing the interests of the community.
7:30 PM: Faint wood smoke. Clouds rolling in. Burners probably want to give us a dose of air pollution before the rain comes.
8:40 PM: Moderately heavy wood smoke.
9:00 PM: No wood smoke where I am. Must have been a shift in wind direction. I went out looking for wood smoke at this time. I noticed a faint trace of wood smoke in the vicinities of Shawnee & Chippewa, Reardon & 18th, and Helen & Polar. There was strong wood smoke at Helen & 19th concentrated at the intersection. It did not extend far beyond the intersection. Somebody did have a fire around there. I could not I locate the source of any of the wood smoke this evening. None of the frequent burners were burning when I was out.
10:00 PM: No wood smoke where I am.
10:30 PM: No wood smoke where I am. Bedtime.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Monday 07/06/2009 Burning
1:00 AM: Extremely strong wood smoke lingers in the air from last night's burning. The air reeks so badly of wood smoke you couldn't stand to breathe it for long.
We are prisoners in our own homes once again. 70 degrees, cool, nice night to have the windows open. But we can't!
2:45 AM: Moderate wood smoke. It is still smoky from smoldering wood from a recreational bonfire.
7:00 AM: Air still smells like wood smoke. Bonfire was left smoldering all night long. That makes 10 hours of constant smoky air.
The city council is the reason for this.
6:00 PM: No wood smoke. 84 degrees, sunny, a gorgeous summer evening.
7:15 PM: No wood smoke.
8:45 PM: No wood smoke yet. There will be. There always is.
10:30 PM: No wood smoke.
Midnight: No wood smoke.
While there was no wood smoke this evening before midnight, the wood burning started at 12:30 AM. I told you there is smoky, polluted air in North St. Paul every night of the week.
We are prisoners in our own homes once again. 70 degrees, cool, nice night to have the windows open. But we can't!
2:45 AM: Moderate wood smoke. It is still smoky from smoldering wood from a recreational bonfire.
7:00 AM: Air still smells like wood smoke. Bonfire was left smoldering all night long. That makes 10 hours of constant smoky air.
The city council is the reason for this.
6:00 PM: No wood smoke. 84 degrees, sunny, a gorgeous summer evening.
7:15 PM: No wood smoke.
8:45 PM: No wood smoke yet. There will be. There always is.
10:30 PM: No wood smoke.
Midnight: No wood smoke.
While there was no wood smoke this evening before midnight, the wood burning started at 12:30 AM. I told you there is smoky, polluted air in North St. Paul every night of the week.
Air pollution warning for firework smoke
I got a hoot out of this article. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an air quality warning because of lingering smoke from fireworks this past 4th of July weekend.
The MPCA should check out the pollution from recreational fires in this city. I am planning to contact them this week and see if it would be possible to get the air quality measured.
Link
It is 1 AM as I write this and the air outside reeks of wood smoke. The wood smoke is so heavy you can't even breathe the air! But this is the way the city council wants us to live.
The MPCA should check out the pollution from recreational fires in this city. I am planning to contact them this week and see if it would be possible to get the air quality measured.
Link
Particle pollution in the Twin Cities was elevated Sunday because of Saturday night's fireworks all over the metro area, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said Sunday.The city of North St. Paul should send that warning out to everyone in the next city newsletter. If pollution from fireworks warrants an air quality warning, the air in this city would be off the charts.
People with asthma and other health problems, as well as elderly people, were advised to stay indoors, and everyone was urged to avoid prolonged outside exertion.
It is 1 AM as I write this and the air outside reeks of wood smoke. The wood smoke is so heavy you can't even breathe the air! But this is the way the city council wants us to live.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Sunday 07/05/2009 Burning
6:45 AM: Faint to light wood smoke. DAMMIT! Cool outside, 62 degrees, sunny. I don't ever want to smell wood smoke and definitely not this early. So I went out to track down the source of the wood smoke.
The wood smoke was heaviest at Lake Blvd. & Swan Ave. That was the source of the wood smoke I smelled when I stepped outside this morning. Going around the corner of Swan at Lake, I smelled no wood smoke. I am not sure which house was producing the wood smoke at 7 AM. But it was one of the homes right in this area.
I also smelled light wood smoke on 19th a few houses east of Margaret. I smelled it the most right in front of an eyesore of a Ben Franklin truck. I went back through the alley and smelled nothing back there. I'm not sure where that wood smoke was coming from.
5:00 PM: Somebody is burning wood. There is never a day without wood smoke in this damn city!
5:45 PM: Light wood smoke. Whoever is burning still is. They may be burning all night long! Horrible.
7:00 PM: Faint wood smoke.
8:30 PM: No wood smoke.
9:15 PM: Faint wood smoke.
10:30 PM: Moderate wood smoke. I know who is burning this evening.
11:30 PM: Moderate wood smoke continues.
Midnight: Extremely strong wood smoke. A few breaths of that air makes you sick to your stomach!
We have the city council to thank for this air pollution. We endure this hell on earth because of their inaction on this issue.
The wood smoke was heaviest at Lake Blvd. & Swan Ave. That was the source of the wood smoke I smelled when I stepped outside this morning. Going around the corner of Swan at Lake, I smelled no wood smoke. I am not sure which house was producing the wood smoke at 7 AM. But it was one of the homes right in this area.
I also smelled light wood smoke on 19th a few houses east of Margaret. I smelled it the most right in front of an eyesore of a Ben Franklin truck. I went back through the alley and smelled nothing back there. I'm not sure where that wood smoke was coming from.
5:00 PM: Somebody is burning wood. There is never a day without wood smoke in this damn city!
5:45 PM: Light wood smoke. Whoever is burning still is. They may be burning all night long! Horrible.
7:00 PM: Faint wood smoke.
8:30 PM: No wood smoke.
9:15 PM: Faint wood smoke.
10:30 PM: Moderate wood smoke. I know who is burning this evening.
11:30 PM: Moderate wood smoke continues.
Midnight: Extremely strong wood smoke. A few breaths of that air makes you sick to your stomach!
We have the city council to thank for this air pollution. We endure this hell on earth because of their inaction on this issue.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Saturday 07/04/2009 Burning
Happy 4th of July....If there is such a thing as happiness in a city with daily air pollution so bad it burns your sinuses, gives you headaches, makes it difficult to breathe, and makes you feel sick.
5:00 AM: Nobody burning right now. Very faint burnt wood or smoky odor lingers in the air. It isn't that bad, but it isn't fresh air like we deserve as humans. Open windows.
9:00 AM: Very faint burnt wood or smoky odor lingers in the air. It isn't fresh air.
7:00 PM: Light to moderate wood smoke.
8:30 PM: Light to moderate wood smoke.
9:30 PM: Light to moderate wood smoke.
10:30 PM: Air is polluted. Smells more like gunpowder than wood smoke. Gunpowder smoke is less of an annoyance than wood smoke and reminds me of fireworks. I still wouldn't want to smell it every day.
11:30 PM: Light to moderate wood smoke. Air still smells like gunpowder, but smells more like wood smoke.
Another smoky evening in North St. Paul, MN. The air is polluted each and every evening. This is a horrible way to live.
5:00 AM: Nobody burning right now. Very faint burnt wood or smoky odor lingers in the air. It isn't that bad, but it isn't fresh air like we deserve as humans. Open windows.
9:00 AM: Very faint burnt wood or smoky odor lingers in the air. It isn't fresh air.
7:00 PM: Light to moderate wood smoke.
8:30 PM: Light to moderate wood smoke.
9:30 PM: Light to moderate wood smoke.
10:30 PM: Air is polluted. Smells more like gunpowder than wood smoke. Gunpowder smoke is less of an annoyance than wood smoke and reminds me of fireworks. I still wouldn't want to smell it every day.
11:30 PM: Light to moderate wood smoke. Air still smells like gunpowder, but smells more like wood smoke.
Another smoky evening in North St. Paul, MN. The air is polluted each and every evening. This is a horrible way to live.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Friday 07/03/2009 Burning
12:30 AM: Strong wood smoke. It reeks of burning wood outside. I am having difficulty breathing. I can't step outside for a breath of fresh air because it is so damn polluted!
1:00 AM: Strong wood smoke continues.
1:30 AM: Moderate wood smoke. The air seems to be clearing. I hope that within the next two hours the air will be clear enough of smoke so I can step outside and take a few deep breaths. I am not going to be able to sleep when I cannot breathe!
2:15 AM: Smoky from smoldering wood.
3:00 AM: Light burnt wood odor.
3:30 AM: Faint burnt wood odor. The air is clearing....finally.
6:00 AM: Faint trace of burnt wood lingers in the air. It isn't fresh air, but it is better than what we had last night. Open windows.
7:00 AM: Somebody is burning grass. This early? Yes.
8:00 AM: No smoke where I am. I noticed light wood smoke when I was driving on 17th between Delaware & McKnight.
This weekend is going to be complete misery.
6:00 PM: Welcome to hell on earth. Wood burning has already started. Navajo west of Helen will be incredibly smoky tonight, as it is every night of the week. I expect the air will be heavily polluted for the next 12 hours or more. There will be many areas of heavy smokiness in the city tonight and this weekend. Wood smoke pollution will not be hard to find.
7:30 PM: No wood smoke where I am.
8:45 PM: Faint wood smoke.
9:30 PM: Faint wood smoke.
10:15 PM: Light wood smoke.
11:00 PM: Moderate wood smoke.
11:30 PM: Moderate wood smoke. Going to bed.
While it was not as smoky as I anticipated, it was another typical polluted night in North St. Paul, MN.
1:00 AM: Strong wood smoke continues.
1:30 AM: Moderate wood smoke. The air seems to be clearing. I hope that within the next two hours the air will be clear enough of smoke so I can step outside and take a few deep breaths. I am not going to be able to sleep when I cannot breathe!
2:15 AM: Smoky from smoldering wood.
3:00 AM: Light burnt wood odor.
3:30 AM: Faint burnt wood odor. The air is clearing....finally.
6:00 AM: Faint trace of burnt wood lingers in the air. It isn't fresh air, but it is better than what we had last night. Open windows.
7:00 AM: Somebody is burning grass. This early? Yes.
8:00 AM: No smoke where I am. I noticed light wood smoke when I was driving on 17th between Delaware & McKnight.
This weekend is going to be complete misery.
6:00 PM: Welcome to hell on earth. Wood burning has already started. Navajo west of Helen will be incredibly smoky tonight, as it is every night of the week. I expect the air will be heavily polluted for the next 12 hours or more. There will be many areas of heavy smokiness in the city tonight and this weekend. Wood smoke pollution will not be hard to find.
7:30 PM: No wood smoke where I am.
8:45 PM: Faint wood smoke.
9:30 PM: Faint wood smoke.
10:15 PM: Light wood smoke.
11:00 PM: Moderate wood smoke.
11:30 PM: Moderate wood smoke. Going to bed.
While it was not as smoky as I anticipated, it was another typical polluted night in North St. Paul, MN.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Thursday 07/02/2009 Burning
1:00 AM: The air outside reeks of burning wood. Someone may have left their fire smoldering.
3:00 AM: Air still reeks. Can't open windows yet.
5:00 AM: Stench of burnt wood is letting up. The air still smells bad.
That's more than eight hours of foul air on a Wednesday night-Thursday morning. I do not see how any city leader can support this. This happens all the time. It happens for no other reason than the city's recreational burning ordinance. As long as recreational burning and the air pollution it generates is allowed, this will continue to happen. Years from now this will be happening unless action is taken to stop it.
7:00 AM: Faint odor of burnt wood lingers in the air. Ten hours after the air got smoky it still hasn't cleared completely. Ick.
3:45 PM: Air still smells faintly of wood smoke. A bonfire must have been left smoldering all night and all day. Driving home I noticed light wood smoke from Indian Way and Helen and to the south of the intersection.
6:00 PM: Smoky again. Intermittent smoke coming in on the breeze. I went out and saw that it is coming from the vicinity of Navajo & 1st or the house behind them. They burn frequently. You can smell the smoke blocks away. If they are grilling, they are using wood as a primary fuel. It's wood smoke. It isn't charcoal. It will likely be smoky over there all night long. I feel sorry for the next door neighbors having to breathe that smoky air.
8:30 PM: Moderate wood smoke. Smells like some grass is burning as well. Tonight is another night in hell!
9:00 PM: Faint to light wood smoke.
10:30 PM: The air reeks of burnt wood.
Midnight: Moderate wood smoke. Can't sleep. I can't breathe! I am having difficulty breathing in my home! The windows have been closed all evening. The air is so polluted. 74 degrees.
This is pure hell.
3:00 AM: Air still reeks. Can't open windows yet.
5:00 AM: Stench of burnt wood is letting up. The air still smells bad.
That's more than eight hours of foul air on a Wednesday night-Thursday morning. I do not see how any city leader can support this. This happens all the time. It happens for no other reason than the city's recreational burning ordinance. As long as recreational burning and the air pollution it generates is allowed, this will continue to happen. Years from now this will be happening unless action is taken to stop it.
7:00 AM: Faint odor of burnt wood lingers in the air. Ten hours after the air got smoky it still hasn't cleared completely. Ick.
3:45 PM: Air still smells faintly of wood smoke. A bonfire must have been left smoldering all night and all day. Driving home I noticed light wood smoke from Indian Way and Helen and to the south of the intersection.
6:00 PM: Smoky again. Intermittent smoke coming in on the breeze. I went out and saw that it is coming from the vicinity of Navajo & 1st or the house behind them. They burn frequently. You can smell the smoke blocks away. If they are grilling, they are using wood as a primary fuel. It's wood smoke. It isn't charcoal. It will likely be smoky over there all night long. I feel sorry for the next door neighbors having to breathe that smoky air.
8:30 PM: Moderate wood smoke. Smells like some grass is burning as well. Tonight is another night in hell!
9:00 PM: Faint to light wood smoke.
10:30 PM: The air reeks of burnt wood.
Midnight: Moderate wood smoke. Can't sleep. I can't breathe! I am having difficulty breathing in my home! The windows have been closed all evening. The air is so polluted. 74 degrees.
This is pure hell.
Wednesday 07/01/2009 Burning
9:00 PM: Very strong wood smoke. The stench of wood smoke hangs heavy in the air. Gasping for air. Close windows.
10:00 PM: Moderate wood smoke continues.
Midnight: Air is still very smoky.
10:00 PM: Moderate wood smoke continues.
Midnight: Air is still very smoky.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tuesday 06/30/2009 Burning
6:30 PM: Very faint intermittent wood smoke coming in on the wind. I can barely smell it. I do know it is wood smoke.
8:00 PM: Very faint intermittent wood smoke continues.
9:30 PM: Very faint intermittent wood smoke continues. If the breeze is just right you can smell a touch of wood smoke. Must be from a distance.
8:00 PM: Very faint intermittent wood smoke continues.
9:30 PM: Very faint intermittent wood smoke continues. If the breeze is just right you can smell a touch of wood smoke. Must be from a distance.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Monday 06/29/2009 Burning
It's another day of air pollution in North St. Paul, MN.
4:00 PM: Faint to light wood smoke. A few minutes prior to this time I was taking a shower when I noticed the smell of wood smoke. I didn't think there was any chance of wood smoke this early. I should have known better. I opened the shower door to find the bathroom smelling like burning wood. I jumped out of the shower dripping wet and ran around the house closing the windows. I left wet foot prints on the carpeting. This is not the first time I have had to jump out of the shower dripping wet to close the windows because somebody was burning wood.
The rest of the house didn't smell like wood smoke. The bathroom exhaust fan sucked in the smoky air. After toweling dry and dressing I stepped outside. I could smell wood smoke on the air, but nobody around me was burning. Taking no chances, I'll leave the windows closed for the duration of the evening.
5:00 PM: Faint wood smoke continues. It's breezy. Must be a distant burner.
6:00 PM: No wood smoke.
6:30 PM: Light to moderate wood smoke.
7:00 PM: No wood smoke where I am. Breezy. Wind appears to be blowing south.
8:00 PM: No wood smoke. Cloudy, 70 degrees.
There was no wood smoke for the rest of the evening.
4:00 PM: Faint to light wood smoke. A few minutes prior to this time I was taking a shower when I noticed the smell of wood smoke. I didn't think there was any chance of wood smoke this early. I should have known better. I opened the shower door to find the bathroom smelling like burning wood. I jumped out of the shower dripping wet and ran around the house closing the windows. I left wet foot prints on the carpeting. This is not the first time I have had to jump out of the shower dripping wet to close the windows because somebody was burning wood.
The rest of the house didn't smell like wood smoke. The bathroom exhaust fan sucked in the smoky air. After toweling dry and dressing I stepped outside. I could smell wood smoke on the air, but nobody around me was burning. Taking no chances, I'll leave the windows closed for the duration of the evening.
5:00 PM: Faint wood smoke continues. It's breezy. Must be a distant burner.
6:00 PM: No wood smoke.
6:30 PM: Light to moderate wood smoke.
7:00 PM: No wood smoke where I am. Breezy. Wind appears to be blowing south.
8:00 PM: No wood smoke. Cloudy, 70 degrees.
There was no wood smoke for the rest of the evening.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Sunday 06/28/2009 Burning
10:00 PM: No wood smoke up until this point. Just wonderful fresh air. Spent several hours outside today and this evening enjoying the summer weather while it lasts. A gorgeous, cool summer day. It is wonderful for once to sit outside and not have to breathe wood smoke. Nobody burned yard waste either. 78 degrees and mostly cloudy at 5 PM. Sunny and 73 degrees at 8 PM.
I anticipated that this evening would be another miserable smoky evening. Wood burning has been starting late lately, often after 10 PM. We still have a couple hours to go.
If we make it through the day without any wood smoke, this will be the first day since last Tuesday (5 days) that we haven't had to endure wood smoke pollution. I've got my fingers crossed.
11:00 PM: No wood smoke.
Midnight: No wood smoke.
Finally, a day without air pollution. This does not happen often in North St. Paul.
I anticipated that this evening would be another miserable smoky evening. Wood burning has been starting late lately, often after 10 PM. We still have a couple hours to go.
If we make it through the day without any wood smoke, this will be the first day since last Tuesday (5 days) that we haven't had to endure wood smoke pollution. I've got my fingers crossed.
11:00 PM: No wood smoke.
Midnight: No wood smoke.
Finally, a day without air pollution. This does not happen often in North St. Paul.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
A reader from Pennsylvania
I got a rare positive email from someone out in Pennsylvania today. This person has trouble with a neighbor who refuses to stop burning wood and polluting the air. The local city leaders have refused to do anything about the air pollution. I would like to take the time to say hi. I know exactly what you are going through.
If your trouble is with one neighbor, consider yourself fortunate. Here in North Saint Paul, Minnesota, many people burn. The problem isn't as simple when there are many burners. When I say many people burn, I don't mean a majority of households. Less than 15% of households burn wood in the northern half of the city, excluding the winter months (probably closer to 10%). We are a densely populated suburb. There are about 175 to 200 homes within a quarter mile radius of me. I've seen recreational bonfires or grass burning at about 16 of them. There are a few more that burn, though. If I find a pocket of smoky air, I can only pinpoint the house doing the burning maybe half the time.
If any one of those households burns wood, the entire neighborhood will reek of wood smoke. All it takes is one. On any given night, it is almost certain that one of them will burn when the weather is nice. I've been able to track the source of wood smoke a half-mile away. If we extend the radius from a quarter-mile to a half-mile, wood smoke pollution is a near certainty every evening, as it has been for years.
If I were in a similar situation with only one neighbor polluting the air regularly, I would fight fire with fire. When the wind blows his direction, I would start a smoky fire to give him a taste of his own medicine. I would spray it with a little water every now and then so it got really steamy and smoky. I would watch to see when he went to sleep and if he left his windows open, I would go outside and start a recreational fire and smoke up his bedroom. I wouldn't limit recreational fires to weekends. I would burn all seven days of the week or as much as local ordinance allows. I would also pay attention to his comings and goings. If he went somewhere and left the windows open, I'd start a smoky bonfire so he came back home to a smoky house like you have. Do unto others as they do unto you.
There are some people who are not interested in being good neighbors. You cannot get these people to change their behavior no matter how much you try. Some people will even go out of their way to do things if they know it bothers you. You certainly don't have many options when what they are doing is legal, no matter how big of a nuisance. When you have exhausted all diplomatic options, the only recourse you have is to get even, I'm afraid.
One other option you have is to draw attention to the issue. I started this blog to serve as a public document of the hell we endure living in North St. Paul. In the past year, I've had visitors from all over the world. People are reading about this nightmare of a city. Another goal of mine is to cast a spotlight on the quality of leadership from our mayor and city council. If Mayor Michael (Mike) Kuehn and city council members Bob Bruton, Terry Furlong, Jan Walczak, and Dave Zick refuse to end this air pollution, I want as many people as possible to know their names and know they support smoky air. If they do the right thing and end recreational burning, I want people to know that they are friends of everyone who values fresh, unpolluted air. I want them to get credit or shame as appropriate.
I have no interest in being a community activist. I have no interest in unfairly criticizing our mayor and city council members. Me and my family and our neighbors are sick to death of breathing smoky air every day. Suffering in silence is no longer an option. We were stretched to the breaking point long ago.
Phase II of my campaign begins soon. If the elected officials don't end this pollution, I am going to make sure everyone in this city knows they are responsible for it. I will knock on every door in this city if I have to. I am even considering going so far as to run for office. That is something I definitely do not want to do. But if that is what it takes to end this damn air pollution, I will have no choice but to do it. Somebody has to have the gumption to do what is right. If our current mayor and city council members won't do it, the burden will fall to me.
A good leader is hard to find. I'm hopeful that I will find some good ones in my city. I wish you the best of luck finding one in yours. Try talking to some others in your community about wood smoke pollution. I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised to discover that most other people find wood smoke to be as much of a nuisance as you do. You won't find many people who want to breathe smoky air every day, especially inside their own homes.
If your trouble is with one neighbor, consider yourself fortunate. Here in North Saint Paul, Minnesota, many people burn. The problem isn't as simple when there are many burners. When I say many people burn, I don't mean a majority of households. Less than 15% of households burn wood in the northern half of the city, excluding the winter months (probably closer to 10%). We are a densely populated suburb. There are about 175 to 200 homes within a quarter mile radius of me. I've seen recreational bonfires or grass burning at about 16 of them. There are a few more that burn, though. If I find a pocket of smoky air, I can only pinpoint the house doing the burning maybe half the time.
If any one of those households burns wood, the entire neighborhood will reek of wood smoke. All it takes is one. On any given night, it is almost certain that one of them will burn when the weather is nice. I've been able to track the source of wood smoke a half-mile away. If we extend the radius from a quarter-mile to a half-mile, wood smoke pollution is a near certainty every evening, as it has been for years.
If I were in a similar situation with only one neighbor polluting the air regularly, I would fight fire with fire. When the wind blows his direction, I would start a smoky fire to give him a taste of his own medicine. I would spray it with a little water every now and then so it got really steamy and smoky. I would watch to see when he went to sleep and if he left his windows open, I would go outside and start a recreational fire and smoke up his bedroom. I wouldn't limit recreational fires to weekends. I would burn all seven days of the week or as much as local ordinance allows. I would also pay attention to his comings and goings. If he went somewhere and left the windows open, I'd start a smoky bonfire so he came back home to a smoky house like you have. Do unto others as they do unto you.
There are some people who are not interested in being good neighbors. You cannot get these people to change their behavior no matter how much you try. Some people will even go out of their way to do things if they know it bothers you. You certainly don't have many options when what they are doing is legal, no matter how big of a nuisance. When you have exhausted all diplomatic options, the only recourse you have is to get even, I'm afraid.
One other option you have is to draw attention to the issue. I started this blog to serve as a public document of the hell we endure living in North St. Paul. In the past year, I've had visitors from all over the world. People are reading about this nightmare of a city. Another goal of mine is to cast a spotlight on the quality of leadership from our mayor and city council. If Mayor Michael (Mike) Kuehn and city council members Bob Bruton, Terry Furlong, Jan Walczak, and Dave Zick refuse to end this air pollution, I want as many people as possible to know their names and know they support smoky air. If they do the right thing and end recreational burning, I want people to know that they are friends of everyone who values fresh, unpolluted air. I want them to get credit or shame as appropriate.
I have no interest in being a community activist. I have no interest in unfairly criticizing our mayor and city council members. Me and my family and our neighbors are sick to death of breathing smoky air every day. Suffering in silence is no longer an option. We were stretched to the breaking point long ago.
Phase II of my campaign begins soon. If the elected officials don't end this pollution, I am going to make sure everyone in this city knows they are responsible for it. I will knock on every door in this city if I have to. I am even considering going so far as to run for office. That is something I definitely do not want to do. But if that is what it takes to end this damn air pollution, I will have no choice but to do it. Somebody has to have the gumption to do what is right. If our current mayor and city council members won't do it, the burden will fall to me.
A good leader is hard to find. I'm hopeful that I will find some good ones in my city. I wish you the best of luck finding one in yours. Try talking to some others in your community about wood smoke pollution. I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised to discover that most other people find wood smoke to be as much of a nuisance as you do. You won't find many people who want to breathe smoky air every day, especially inside their own homes.
Saturday 06/27/2009 Burning
I anticipated another smoky hell of an evening like the last three.
7:00 PM: No wood smoke. 79 degrees, sunny, breezy, a gorgeous summer evening. This is a nice evening to be outside.
8:00 PM: No wood smoke.
8:45 PM: No wood smoke. Dark clouds have rolled in. It looks like we may have some rain.
8:55 PM: Brief rain shower at this time.
9:30 PM: No wood smoke. The sky is clear above, but clouds are on the horizon. Hopefully we will get more rain. Mother Nature provides relief from this horrible air pollution that City Hall has not.
If only we could get Mother Nature to run for public office.....
10:15 PM: Moderate wood smoke. DAMMIT! Not even one f-ing night without wood smoke! THIS CITY SUCKS!
11:30 PM: No wood smoke. I can hear loud voices and shouting off in the distance. Somebody is having a party.
7:00 PM: No wood smoke. 79 degrees, sunny, breezy, a gorgeous summer evening. This is a nice evening to be outside.
8:00 PM: No wood smoke.
8:45 PM: No wood smoke. Dark clouds have rolled in. It looks like we may have some rain.
8:55 PM: Brief rain shower at this time.
9:30 PM: No wood smoke. The sky is clear above, but clouds are on the horizon. Hopefully we will get more rain. Mother Nature provides relief from this horrible air pollution that City Hall has not.
If only we could get Mother Nature to run for public office.....
10:15 PM: Moderate wood smoke. DAMMIT! Not even one f-ing night without wood smoke! THIS CITY SUCKS!
11:30 PM: No wood smoke. I can hear loud voices and shouting off in the distance. Somebody is having a party.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Friday 06/26/2009 Burning
I am convinced that North St. Paul, MN, is hell on earth. The differences are that you don't pay property taxes in hell and there is less smoke pollution.
9:00 PM: No wood smoke up until this point. Rare. Wood smoke usually starts earlier on Fridays.
9:30 PM: Moderate wood smoke. Good and smoky outside. IS ANYONE SURPRISED? There has to be smoke pollution else it would not be North St. Paul!
10:00 PM: Very strong wood smoke. Horrible polluted air. I cannot understand why the city allows this to continue.
11:00 PM: Moderate wood smoke. The breeze is blowing west. The burner is to the east this night.
Midnight: Light to moderate wood smoke.
9:00 PM: No wood smoke up until this point. Rare. Wood smoke usually starts earlier on Fridays.
9:30 PM: Moderate wood smoke. Good and smoky outside. IS ANYONE SURPRISED? There has to be smoke pollution else it would not be North St. Paul!
10:00 PM: Very strong wood smoke. Horrible polluted air. I cannot understand why the city allows this to continue.
11:00 PM: Moderate wood smoke. The breeze is blowing west. The burner is to the east this night.
Midnight: Light to moderate wood smoke.
Thursday 06/25/2009 Burning
It was another awful evening of air pollution in North St. Paul, MN. Why aren't the city leaders doing anything about this smoky torture they are subjecting us to? Are they laughing madly about this hellish air pollution they are forcing us to live in? What elected leader in his right mind would allow this recreational burning and air pollution when such a small percentage of the population burns?
5:00 PM: No wood smoke. 88 degrees.
6:00 PM: No wood smoke.
7:00 PM: No wood smoke.
8:00 PM: No wood smoke. 85 degrees.
9:00 PM: No wood smoke.
10:00 PM: No wood smoke. 81 degrees.
10:30 PM: No wood smoke.
10:50 PM: Light wood smoke. Some jerk started burning right before the 11:00 PM cutoff. This happens often. I think I may have to redo the weather stripping along one of my windows. The wood smoke was seeping in. All the windows were closed, the AC was on, and I could still smell this damn wood smoke inside my house!
I went outside and looked around. None of my immediate neighbors was burning. It could be someone blocks away. Air pollution travels.
11:15 PM: Strong wood smoke. The air outside reeks with the heavy stench of burning wood. This is the second night in a row burning started late!
11:30 PM: Faint wood smoke. Could the burning be done for the evening?
Midnight: Strong wood smoke. No, the burning was not done. They are probably just getting started. This was the last check of the evening. I would venture a guess that the wood smoke continued into the wee hours of the morning, like it often does!
This evening's air pollution could have been the result of only one burner. One person burns and hundreds or thousands have to endure polluted air. This is not right. This must stop!
5:00 PM: No wood smoke. 88 degrees.
6:00 PM: No wood smoke.
7:00 PM: No wood smoke.
8:00 PM: No wood smoke. 85 degrees.
9:00 PM: No wood smoke.
10:00 PM: No wood smoke. 81 degrees.
10:30 PM: No wood smoke.
10:50 PM: Light wood smoke. Some jerk started burning right before the 11:00 PM cutoff. This happens often. I think I may have to redo the weather stripping along one of my windows. The wood smoke was seeping in. All the windows were closed, the AC was on, and I could still smell this damn wood smoke inside my house!
I went outside and looked around. None of my immediate neighbors was burning. It could be someone blocks away. Air pollution travels.
11:15 PM: Strong wood smoke. The air outside reeks with the heavy stench of burning wood. This is the second night in a row burning started late!
11:30 PM: Faint wood smoke. Could the burning be done for the evening?
Midnight: Strong wood smoke. No, the burning was not done. They are probably just getting started. This was the last check of the evening. I would venture a guess that the wood smoke continued into the wee hours of the morning, like it often does!
This evening's air pollution could have been the result of only one burner. One person burns and hundreds or thousands have to endure polluted air. This is not right. This must stop!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Wednesday 06/24/2009 Burning
Today is another warm day. But not warm enough to discourage recreational burning in this polluted city. The temperature was 84 degrees at 6 PM. I suspected this evening would be smoky and polluted. Just as I prepared for bed my suspicions were realized.
7:00 PM: No wood smoke up until now.
8:00 PM: No wood smoke.
9:00 PM: No wood smoke.
10:15 PM: Very strong wood smoke! The air reeks! The wood smoke is sickeningly strong. Your stomach turns the instant you smell it. Horrible smoky air has returned to North St. Paul. The past three days absent of smoke were only because it rained or was too hot to burn. With the lower temperature, air pollution is back as it always is. 80 degrees at this time.
Good thing the AC is on. The air outside is not fit for human consumption. You could not stand to breathe it.
11:00 PM: Extremely strong wood smoke continues. The wood smoke is so heavy. To give you an idea, a comparison would be to stand next to a large, smoky bonfire with your body downwind so the smoke blows directly into your face. Difficult to breathe? Smoke make you sick to your stomach? That's how strong the wood smoke is at this time. Back to bed.
I do not understand why the city leaders allowed the air pollution in this city to get so bad. Do they take pleasure in our suffering?
People considering buying real estate in the city of North St. Paul should read this blog carefully. Buying a house in a city with air pollution this bad is not something you want to do. Until the city leaders end this air pollution problem (if they ever do), steer clear of North St. Paul, Minnesota. You will be sorry if you don't. You will curse the day you moved to this town every smoky evening.
7:00 PM: No wood smoke up until now.
8:00 PM: No wood smoke.
9:00 PM: No wood smoke.
10:15 PM: Very strong wood smoke! The air reeks! The wood smoke is sickeningly strong. Your stomach turns the instant you smell it. Horrible smoky air has returned to North St. Paul. The past three days absent of smoke were only because it rained or was too hot to burn. With the lower temperature, air pollution is back as it always is. 80 degrees at this time.
Good thing the AC is on. The air outside is not fit for human consumption. You could not stand to breathe it.
11:00 PM: Extremely strong wood smoke continues. The wood smoke is so heavy. To give you an idea, a comparison would be to stand next to a large, smoky bonfire with your body downwind so the smoke blows directly into your face. Difficult to breathe? Smoke make you sick to your stomach? That's how strong the wood smoke is at this time. Back to bed.
I do not understand why the city leaders allowed the air pollution in this city to get so bad. Do they take pleasure in our suffering?
People considering buying real estate in the city of North St. Paul should read this blog carefully. Buying a house in a city with air pollution this bad is not something you want to do. Until the city leaders end this air pollution problem (if they ever do), steer clear of North St. Paul, Minnesota. You will be sorry if you don't. You will curse the day you moved to this town every smoky evening.
Tuesday 06/23/2009 Burning
10:30 PM: No wood smoke through this point. Today was another scorcher. Hot and humid. The high reached 95 degrees during the day, dropped to 87 degrees at 5 PM, then climbed later. It was too hot for recreational air pollution.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Monday 06/22/2009 Burning
8:00 PM: No wood smoke up until this point.
Today is a scorcher. The temperature was 93 degrees at 5:30 PM and it was a little humid. 91 degrees at this time. There probably won't be any burning tonight. People don't like to sit around hot smoky fires polluting the air when it gets up into the 90s.
The only way we get fresh air in this city is if it rains or is too hot or cold to burn wood.
10:00 PM: No wood smoke this evening through this point.
Today is a scorcher. The temperature was 93 degrees at 5:30 PM and it was a little humid. 91 degrees at this time. There probably won't be any burning tonight. People don't like to sit around hot smoky fires polluting the air when it gets up into the 90s.
The only way we get fresh air in this city is if it rains or is too hot or cold to burn wood.
10:00 PM: No wood smoke this evening through this point.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Sunday 06/21/2009 Burning
5:00 AM: Faint odor of burnt wood lingers in the air. Ick.
9:00 AM: I can still smell a trace of burnt wood.
8:30 PM: No wood smoke yet this evening. There was a short sprinkle of rain around 6 PM. The wetter it is, the less air pollution from wood smoke in this city. 72 degrees, cloudy.
10:00 PM: No wood smoke up until this last check of the air quality. The rain sprinkle allowed us fresh air for the evening.
9:00 AM: I can still smell a trace of burnt wood.
8:30 PM: No wood smoke yet this evening. There was a short sprinkle of rain around 6 PM. The wetter it is, the less air pollution from wood smoke in this city. 72 degrees, cloudy.
10:00 PM: No wood smoke up until this last check of the air quality. The rain sprinkle allowed us fresh air for the evening.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Saturday 06/20/2009 Burning
Air pollution is back in full force in the city of North St. Paul, MN, this evening.
8:45 PM: Strong wood and grass smoke. Is it the same burner as last night disposing of yard waste while masking it by burning wood? I can't say. If it is, it would be nice if he burned all his grass at the same time so we wouldn't have to inhale his yard waste over multiple days. 84 degrees.
9:00 PM: Faint wood smoke. Could the burning be over for the evening?
9:30 PM: Very strong wood smoke. The air is filled with the horrid stench of burning wood. The air is very unpleasant. I was outside earlier enjoying the summer evening while I could. I came in just as the air pollution was beginning this evening. Nobody would want to be outside breathing that horrible polluted air. Too bad our city leaders force us to live like this. I am beginning to think they enjoy us breathing polluted air.
Nothing caps off an evening like inhaling smoky, polluted air.....Tonight's polluted air is brought to you by the elected officials of the city of North St. Paul. They are the ones who allow this air pollution to continue and who could stop it if they wished.
10:30 PM: Moderate wood smoke. Air is smoky and likely will be for hours to come. 78 degrees.
The low temperature is forecast to be 70 degrees tonight. It might be possible to turn off the air conditioning and save some electricity. But we can't do that because the air is so damn smoky!
11:00 PM: Extremely strong wood smoke. Wow! The wood smoke is so powerful it hits you in the nose the second you open the door. My stomach turned immediately smelling that horrible polluted air. I couldn't imagine the result if the windows were open. The entire house would reek of a forest fire. Breathing that polluted air for a few minutes would surely leave my sinuses burning.
Gasping for air again in North St. Paul, Minnesota. Does anyone at City Hall care? Obviously, the answer must be no since this horrible air pollution hasn't stopped.
8:45 PM: Strong wood and grass smoke. Is it the same burner as last night disposing of yard waste while masking it by burning wood? I can't say. If it is, it would be nice if he burned all his grass at the same time so we wouldn't have to inhale his yard waste over multiple days. 84 degrees.
9:00 PM: Faint wood smoke. Could the burning be over for the evening?
9:30 PM: Very strong wood smoke. The air is filled with the horrid stench of burning wood. The air is very unpleasant. I was outside earlier enjoying the summer evening while I could. I came in just as the air pollution was beginning this evening. Nobody would want to be outside breathing that horrible polluted air. Too bad our city leaders force us to live like this. I am beginning to think they enjoy us breathing polluted air.
Nothing caps off an evening like inhaling smoky, polluted air.....Tonight's polluted air is brought to you by the elected officials of the city of North St. Paul. They are the ones who allow this air pollution to continue and who could stop it if they wished.
10:30 PM: Moderate wood smoke. Air is smoky and likely will be for hours to come. 78 degrees.
The low temperature is forecast to be 70 degrees tonight. It might be possible to turn off the air conditioning and save some electricity. But we can't do that because the air is so damn smoky!
11:00 PM: Extremely strong wood smoke. Wow! The wood smoke is so powerful it hits you in the nose the second you open the door. My stomach turned immediately smelling that horrible polluted air. I couldn't imagine the result if the windows were open. The entire house would reek of a forest fire. Breathing that polluted air for a few minutes would surely leave my sinuses burning.
Gasping for air again in North St. Paul, Minnesota. Does anyone at City Hall care? Obviously, the answer must be no since this horrible air pollution hasn't stopped.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Friday 06/19/2009 Burning
6:30 PM: Faint grass and wood smoke. It did not last more than a half-hour. If people are allowed to burn wood, they think they can burn anything. One sneaky neighbor burns a little wood and throws his grass clippings on top of it. He uses the currently legal wood burning to mask his grass burning. I don't know if he's the one burning at this time. I'd rather have grass burning be legal and wood burning be illegal. I have never seen anyone burn grass for 10 hours like they do with wood. Grass or wood burning, it's all unnecessary air pollution and should be eliminated. 81 degrees and cloudy.
8:00 PM: Short rain shower at this time. This will hopefully put a damper on any recreational bonfires this evening.
10:30 PM: No wood smoke. I love that fresh, unpolluted air! It is wonderful to step outside and take a deep breath and smell nothing. This does not happen often on most Friday nights. Or Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Saturday nights for that matter.
Everybody should have the right to fresh, unpolluted air all seven days of the week. Too bad we don't. I wish the city leaders would stand up for the thousands of North St. Paul residents who don't burn wood instead of protecting the small number who do.
Midnight: The air is still wonderfully fresh!
8:00 PM: Short rain shower at this time. This will hopefully put a damper on any recreational bonfires this evening.
10:30 PM: No wood smoke. I love that fresh, unpolluted air! It is wonderful to step outside and take a deep breath and smell nothing. This does not happen often on most Friday nights. Or Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Saturday nights for that matter.
Everybody should have the right to fresh, unpolluted air all seven days of the week. Too bad we don't. I wish the city leaders would stand up for the thousands of North St. Paul residents who don't burn wood instead of protecting the small number who do.
Midnight: The air is still wonderfully fresh!
Thursday 06/18/2009 Burning
No wood smoke this evening. I was surprised. It was warm and muggy. The temperature was 83 degrees at 8 PM. Every evening should be absent of recreational air pollution like this.
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