Support clean air in Barrington.

The Barrington Town Council is discussing and likely voting on whether to repeal a long-standing ordinance that bans backyard firepits and chimineas in our town. The ordinance was originally enacted due to concerns over pollution. If you have children, especially if you have, or know, a child who suffers from asthma, please attend the council meeting and voice your support for upholding the ordinance and keeping our air clean. Backyard fires are fun, but they increase the risk of property fires, the cost of fire response, and most importantly the risk to public health. Wood smoke triggers asthma attacks and can actually induce heart attacks in residents who suffer from heart disease. We generate a lot of wood smoke in the winter time, but we’re indoors. The fires serve multiple purposes, and the chimneys collect much of the soot and empty it at 25’ or higher. Backyard fires are common on cool spring, summer or fall evenings when our neighbors (many with children who are sleeping) have windows open. Please weigh the entertainment benefits of backyard fires with the potential negative consequences. Attend Firewater, and wait to enjoy a fire in your home, when everyone else is inside as well. Urge our council members to uphold what was a common-sense ordinance at the time, and is still common sense today.

If you can’t attend the meeting, you can find our council persons’ email addresses here:

http://www.barrington.ri.gov/boards/towncouncil.php

Thanks.