“Cleaner Burn” is a set of techniques to burn biomass (e.g, old vines, trees, brush) in a way that minimizes harm to the environment, is efficient and safe, and helps address climate change. The information in this site will help users to understand the benefits of Cleaner Burns and to decide what kind of burns best fits their needs.
This Frequently Asked Questions FAQ document provides a great intro to Cleaner Burn, including its definition, benefits, options, and use in Napa County. The Napa Valley Grapegrowers provides excellent information and videos about Cleaner Burn practices. It includes the work…
Low Smoke 6 Steps (English) & Low Smoke 6 Steps (Spanish) Join Napa RCD, Napa Green, Sonoma Biochar Initiative, and Pacific Biochar for a workshop about the benefits of biochar and the process of creating and performing both a conservation…
The permissive burn season for Vineyard/Orchard Pruning and Attrition fires runs from November 1 through April 30. Orchard Pruning and Attrition fires are agricultural fires set for the purpose of disposing of periodic prunings or attrition losses from fruit trees,…
Private Contractors: Photo courtesy of Napa Valley Grapegrowers
This document contains pictures and descriptions of a wide range of wood processing and Cleaner Burn equipment: Photo courtesy of Sonoma Biochar Initiative
Rural landowners may also make use of Cleaner Burn strategies to reduce smoke and eliminate biomass effectively but during certain times of the year, when fire danger is high, rural debris burning of dead vegetation is unsafe. Homeowners should always…
Biochar is the lightweight black residue, made of carbon and ashes, remaining after Cleaner Burns of biomass. Biochar captures the carbon from within biomass so that it does not escape as greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. It is very effective…