Getting a hand with next year's firewood. Man wins two loads by knowing burning damp wood creates air pollution.

Piers Fuller Reporter from News of Wairarapa

Christmas came early recently for a Masterton man in the form of a winter’s worth of firewood which should help keep the cold away next year.
Kevin Wilson, who is semi-retired and lives just outside Masterton, won two truck-loads of firewood - a whole 10m cubed of 50 per cent pine and 50 per cent macrocarpa - in a competition held by Greater Wellington at the Wairarapa A&P Show to raise awareness about air pollution from home fire burning.
Kevin, who restores wooden furniture from his studio at home, correctly stated that 80 per cent of the Masterton region’s particle air pollution is caused by burning damp firewood.
“A bit of common sense and foresight goes a long way,” says Kevin. “People should get their firewood in early to dry it out, then stack it in a covered dry place. And shopping around well before winter will ensure you can buy it at the best price.”
Greater Wellington is taking opportunities such as A&P shows to share information on better burning practices, to alert people to the health issues of air pollution and to and show them how to save money and make their wood go further.
Damp firewood is a real problem, especially in Wairarapa which at times during winter has high particle air pollution readings. If we work together to ensure it is stored correctly everyone will benefit.
Tips and tricks on better burning are shown on Greater Wellington’s website, which shows how to store wood over the summer months to keep it safe and dry - www.gw.govt.nz... .