The Big Choke: wood burning complaints rise 65% with barely any enforcement action
22nd October 2025
Headline and image: The Guardian
Our latest research reveals that over 15,000 complaints about wood burning were made between September 2024 & August 2025, with barely a handful of fines issued and not a single prosecution pursued.
There were 9,274 complaints in Smoke Control Areas alone - compared to 5,600 in the previous year - an increase of 65% in areas that have restrictions on smoke emissions.
Our research again reveals the inadequacy of the Government’s legislation in tackling air pollution from wood burning.
“This is a public health failure hiding in plain sight and it is making us sick: people are being left to choke in silence.”
Health professionals concerned about wood burning
Wood burning is a leading source of fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) in the UK, and PM2.5 exposure is linked to heart and lung disease, strokes, dementia, cancer and more.
Image: Flickr by Ernst Vikne
Researchers and health professionals are concerned about the increasing number of people with lung cancer who have never smoked. Cases of lung cancer are rising in non-smoking young women, with air pollution cited as a significant risk factor. A recent study shows that people who use solid fuel wood burners for home heating experience a faster decline in lung function compared to non-users.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health advises phasing out domestic wood burning in urban areas to protect children's health.
Lack of government action on wood burning
Three years after the Government promised to cut smoke emissions, legislation has still not been introduced, and the promised review of the Environmental Improvement Plan remains unpublished.
In contrast, EU member states agreed last year to significantly strengthen air quality legislation in line with World Health Organization targets.
We have three urgent asks of government:
👉 Phase out domestic wood burning and assist those in rural areas and those in fuel poverty to transition to cleaner heating.
👉 Immediately put an end to classifying wood burning stoves as “DEFRA-exempt” or “DEFRA-approved”. This name gives consumers the false reassurance that these stoves are healthy to use.
👉 Run an effective public health campaign raising awareness of the health impacts of burning, asking people not to burn.
Lived experience of wood burning across England
These are just a sample of the experiences of our volunteers across the country. If you’re affected by wood burning, please get in touch with us at hello@mumsforlungs.org to join our campaign.
“Wood smoke is the bane of my life in the colder months of the year, it triggers exacerbations of my lung disease, leaving me with a wheeze and a tight chest.”
“Wood smoke from unregulated fires on a glamping site has caused us to leave our home, to stop work in our farmyard, and even for guests watching wildlife to have to leave our garden.”
“Allotment burning season is well and truly here in Tottenham. The smoke is everywhere, it fills my daughter’s tiny growing lungs as we walk home from school and the smell lingers in our hair and clothes.”
“Despite living in a so-called ‘smoke-free zone’, the smoke that pours out of chimneys in our area continues to make its way into our house regularly throughout Autumn and Winter.”
“In Central London wood smoke isn’t rustic, it’s reckless. My son didn’t ask for a bonfire in his bedroom but wood smoke seeps in even with windows shut. Despite being in a smoke control zone, he is choking on other people’s winter “charm”.”
“I developed adult asthma whilst living in Manchester and now my six year old son has it too. Our street is full of people using wood burning stoves. I have to remember to close all the windows before it gets dark otherwise the whole top floor smells of wood smoke.”
“Smoke from our neighbour’s wood burning pours into our home regularly forcing us to become passive smokers, seriously affecting our family’s physical and mental health.”
“My toddler is newly diagnosed with asthma and it’s so depressing that now the weather has turned colder, our pleasant suburban street has become smoky again, making him cough.”
“Every night we have to close all windows and trickle vents (not healthy either) to keep out toxic smoke from domestic wood burning. If we forget my eyes sting, but I hate to think what it’s doing to the rest of me.”
“I feel powerless to do anything about the local canal boats burning wood as well as all sorts of nasty waste material, polluting my home and poisoning my family.”
“I’d like to go out into my garden and open my windows when I want to. But because I live in a village, I’m surrounded by wood burners, so it’s my neighbours who determine whether I can go out into the garden or open a window. ”