Garrett County’s commissioners know they will have to put careful thought into enforcing new regulations that govern the outdoor wood boilers which — even though they are technically illegal — have been heating people’s homes in our end of the state for some time.

Discussing the matter recently, the commissioners said that health issues will have to be balanced with the fact that many people use the boilers to heat their homes.

Given the price of heating oil, electricity and natural gas, the boilers provide a good alternative for many residents of Western Maryland and nearby counties in other states.

A key element to the new standards is what constitutes acceptable fuel for these boilers.

That should come as good news to anyone with a neighbor who burns tires, dung, dead animals, garbage and anything else that generates a foul odor when it’s set afire.

Oddly enough, it has been legal to sell outdoor boilers in Maryland, but not to have them on one’s property. Enforcement has been limited to responding to complaints.

Why is the subject suddenly drawing the attention of state officials? Garrett County Health Department Rodney Glotfelty said it’s simply because the outdoor burners have mostly been a problem in Allegany and Garrett counties, but now, “They are moving down to Harford County.”

New state regulations place limits on particulate emissions and require that only fuels from clean heat sources can be used.

Local governments will be able to fine tune the regulations with regards to setbacks and the height of smokestacks, and can ban the boilers within town limits. In a rural setting, smoke often has room to dissipate without bothering nearby residents. That’s not always true within the confines of a town or city.

Garrett County has begun taking a look at the outdoor boiler issue, and we expect Allegany County will do the same.