3:15 PM: Somebody is burning grass. I noticed the odor of burning grass as I passed by a window. The smell is light, carried on the breeze. I don't think the burning of grass has been legal for a long time. It doesn't matter. As far as I can tell, there are no fines or penalties for burning yard waste. So, what does a burner have to risk by flaunting the law and burning yard waste? Nothing.
Tonight should be smoky. A nice Saturday evening on a holiday weekend is perfect for recreational fires and the pollution it creates. Who wants to breathe fresh air when one can enjoy the stench of burning wood?
Fresh, clean air is overrated, isn't it?
3:45 PM: No more burning grass or any other smoke.
5:30 PM: Light wood smoke at this time.
6:30 PM: Light wood smoke continues.
8:00 PM: Very strong wood smoke. Someone on the next block has a fire going. I can see the cloud of smoke wafting over the trees a few houses down from me. I can sure smell it. Horrible stench of burning wood! That smoke is blowing right at homes! Homes where people need to breathe the air!
Imagine what those houses would smell like inside if the residents left their windows open as a cloud of smoke rolled right at them. Everything would stink like burning wood! All the furniture, carpeting, and draperies would reek of wood smoke. And that smell would be there all night because they couldn't open the windows to air out the house because the air outside is polluted!
9:00 PM: Moderate to strong wood smoke.
10:00 PM: Extremely heavy wood smoke! HORRIBLE! This air is unfit for human beings! Who the hell could possibly argue that air this smoky is a good thing? Who the hell would want to breathe it? You can't open your windows in this damn city! It is 65 degrees right now and this is perfect weather to open the windows. But you can't! You are a prisoner in your own home in this city thanks to the city government which continues to allow this unnecessary and dangerous wood smoke pollution! Not only does the city allow it, it encourages it on the city website!
To give you an idea of how smoky it is, I spent a very short time outside and my clothes reek of wood smoke. It's almost like I spent several hours in a smoky bar. But I didn't. Only a minute or so. Everything outside reeks of smoke and so do my clothes! The wood smoke is sickeningly strong. I didn't stay outside long, but the wood smoke is probably strong enough to make me nauseous and make my sinuses burn.
Do you like burning sinuses and a turning stomach because of wood smoke? I DON'T!
A shower and a fresh change of clothes is in store right after I finish writing this.
I bet that horrible wood smoke will last all night long. I would not be surprised if the air reeks of burnt logs well into the morning hours like it has many times in the past year. As of this writing, we've had nonstop wood smoke for the past 4.5 hours! It probably won't let up any time soon knowing this city like I do.
Another miserable hell of an evening in North St. Paul, MN!
This city is not a campground. This is not a rural area. This is a dense suburban city with small lots and homes that are close together. Recreational burning of wood should not be allowed! Hundreds of people around me are negatively impacted by this powerful wood smoke. That smoke can travel a great distance, meaning a thousand people or more may be forced to breathe smoky air. And the city leaders don't give a damn!
11:00 PM: Heavy wood smoke continues.
12:00 AM: Still very smoky outside.