Gas Fits Lifestyle Curling up in front of a fire also has moved out of vogue in our hurry-up world, Mr. Cummins adds. Building a fire can be a hassle and a mess. Gas logs, by comparison, are lit with the flip of a switch, and there's no cleanup afterward. Environmentally, the difference is likewise significant, says Terry Lee, spokeswoman for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District in San Francisco. A traditional fireplace puts out 200 grams of particulates per evening.
Natural gas puts out less than a gram.
The district urges Bay Area residents to switch to gas fireplaces voluntarily. It's always nicer to have a fire with good-quality wood. The gas logs look fake. A decade ago, Denver newspapers listed twice as many ads peddling firewood. But King is undaunted.