Camping & RVs
Wilderness Travel & Land Use
- Into the Yukon Wilderness
- Leave No Trace
- Wilderness Tourism Operators
- Park Permits
- Dempster Hwy Development Permit
Conservation Area Planning
Territorial Parks
Hunting in Yukon
Fishing in Yukon
Trapping in Yukon
- Trapping Regulations
- Humane Trapping Standards
- Proposed Developments Within
Trapping Concessions - Yukon Trapper Profiles
Hunter & Trapper Education & Resources
Wildlife Viewing
- Wildlife Viewing Program
- Wildlife Viewing Strategy
- Wildlife Viewing Events
- Viewing Tips & Etiquette
- Best Viewing Sites
- Through the Seasons
- Bird Watching
- Swan Haven
- Celebration of Swans
Yukon Species
Animal Management
- Southern Lakes Bear Study
- Winter Ticks
- Wildlife Diseases & Contaminants
- Wildlife Management Modelling
Animal Health and Protection
Wilderness Management
Fish & Wildlife Planning
Climate Change
- Climate Change and Yukon
- Climate Change Action Plan
- Impacts of Climate Change
- Climate Change Adaptation
- Reducing GHG Emissions
- Climate Change & Youth
- Yukon Government Initiatives
Air & Water
Waste & Chemicals
Clean Northern Living
- Household Hazardous Waste
- Spill Reporting
- Help Stop Invasive Species
- Turn in Poachers & Polluters (TIPP)
- Warming Up Your Vehicle
- ATV Use in Yukon
- Wood Burning Tips
Animal Encounters
- Human-Wildlife Conflict
- Orphaned or Injured Wildlife
- Homeowners & Urban Wildlife
- Bear Safety
- Cougar Safety
Environment Yukon eServices
Get Involved
- Canada's Parks Day
- Volunteer Opportunities in Yukon Parks
- How You Can Help Wildlife Studies
- Environmental Awareness Fund
- Joining Boards, Councils & Committees
Public Reviews
- Pesticide Application Permit
- Spay-Neuter Program Evaluation
- Permitting System
- Developing Animal Health Act Regulations
Youth Programs
Educator Resources
- EnviroWild Resources for Educators
- Resource Guides
- Backyard Biodiversity
- BIGFOOT/littlefoot Game
- Environment Education Links
About the Department
Publications
Maps & GIS Data
Let's Clear the Air About Wood Smoke
Riverdale, Whitehorse - YG photo
Burn the right wood the right way and it will save you time, money and will reduce the amount of harmful contaminants you might otherwise contribute to the air around your home.
![]() Burn the Right Wood the Right Way
|
|
![]() |
Preheat your chimney before starting a full fire by using a small kindling fire. This allows for better air circulation and therefore better combustion. |
![]() |
Burn only seasoned, dry, split wood. To properly season wood, it should be cut, split and stacked in a covered area for about six months (including the summer months) before burning. |
![]() |
Never burn green, wet, treated or painted wood, garbage, plastic, cardboard or glossy or bleached paper. Doing so releases poisons. |
![]() |
Remember that fire needs oxygen. A clean and efficient burn requires ample air flow, so don’t overload your stove and don’t damp it down too much. Smoldering fires produce more pollutants because the wood is not being combusted completely. |
![]() |
Running a high fire for 10 to 15 minutes after each refueling will help the wood burn better and will produce more heat for the amount of wood you use. |
![]() |
Gradually reduce the air supply after starting or feeding a fire. A sudden reduction can make the fire smolder (resulting in a lot of pollution) until it recovers. |
![]() |
Check the chimney for creosote build-up. A build-up of creosote might mean that your fires are not as efficient as they should be. While you’re up there, clean the chimney to prevent a chimney fire. |
Install an Efficient Wood Stove
|
|
![]() |
The single most important thing you can do to reduce pollution from your woodstove is to install an efficient woodstove. Check that it meets current standards set by the Canadian Standards Association or the United States Environmental Protection Agency. |
![]() |
EPA approved woodstoves employ some simple technologies that allow smoke to be combusted prior to leaving through the chimney, resulting in a reduction of up to 98% of the pollutants that come from your stove and an increase in efficiency of up to 38%. That’s up to 38% less cutting, bucking, hauling, stacking and splitting or 38% less that you pay for wood! |
![]() |
Replace your existing woodstove with either a new EPA approved woodstove or a clean burning ULC approved pellet stove and you’ll qualify for a $300 grant from the Energy Solutions Centre’s Good Energy rebate program. For more information, see the Energy Solutions Centre Website |
Additional Resources
- Health Canada: Woodsmoke - It's Your Health
- Environment Canada Wood Heating Tips
- Energy Solutions Centre Rebate Program for Heating Appliances
- Burn Wise
- Guide to Residential Wood Heating (Natural Resources Canada)
- What is Wood Smoke? (Health Canada)
- Pollution & Air Quality (Canadian Lung Association)
Environmental Programs Environment Yukon Government of Yukon Box 2703 (V-8) Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6 Phone: 867-667-5683 Email: envprot@gov.yk.ca |