WA Burn Bans

StartSelection:0000000199 EndSelection:0000004444

Stage 1 Burn Ban Being Declared for Clark County
The use of fireplaces and uncertified wood stoves will be prohibited until the outlook for air quality improves. Households without an adequate alternative heat source are exempted.

VANCOUVER, Wash. – The Southwest Clean Air Agency (SWCAA) is issuing a Stage 1 Burn Ban effective at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 11, 2012 for all of Clark County through 1:00 pm Saturday January 14, 2012.  Stagnant weather patterns are forecast and fine particle pollution levels are expected to rise Wednesday night through Saturday morning.  Evening inversions followed by poor daytime ventilation and dispersion is forecasted to continue causing continued levels of moderate to high fine particle pollution levels that will continue throughout the week and into the weekend.  This stagnant weather pattern means that the use of all fireplaces and uncertified wood stoves and inserts is prohibited until Saturday afternoon when a front is forecasted to bring improved ventilation to the area. All outdoor burning is also prohibited during this Stage 1 Burn Ban.  However, if air quality should continue to deteriorate, this Burn Ban may have to be extended or upgraded to a Stage 2, which would prohibit all wood burning, including fireplaces, certified wood stoves, inserts and pellet stoves. If wood burning is your only adequate source of heat, you are exempt and we ask that you burn as clean as possible.

These curtailments occur in two progressive stages as needed:

Stage 1: The use of all fireplaces and uncertified wood stoves and inserts is banned when pollution is forecasted to reach unhealthy levels. Uncertified units are typically older than 1990 and lack a certification label on the back of the unit.
Stage 2: All wood heating is prohibited, including certified units, when the Stage 1 curtailment has not reversed the increasing pollution trend and weather conditions still indicate a high risk for exceeding air quality health standards.

“We are hopeful that calling this Stage 1 curtailment will prevent us from exceeding the federal health-based standard for fine particle pollution,” said Robert Elliott, Executive Director for the agency.  Elliott went on to say that “although we may see these fine particle pollution levels decreasing some during the day, on cold nights with little or no wind, wood smoke pollution can accumulate to levels that are considered unhealthy. Fine particles released by smoke from wood stoves, fireplaces and other burning are of concern because they can reach deep into the lungs. Episodes of high fine particle pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing and make lung and heart problems worse. We are not asking anyone to go without heat, but to use an alternative source of heat if possible until our air quality returns to healthy levels.”

To sign up to receive e-mail notifications of these wood stove curtailment burn bans, visit www.swcleanair.org.

The following graphic is from an air monitoring station on Fourth Plain Blvd. in Vancouver, and shows the air quality index based on levels of fine particulate.

OLYMPIA—Just because you can burn yard waste doesn’t mean you should.

Burning at any time adds to the air pollution levels in your local neighborhood, and residents are encouraged to seek alternatives to burning throughout the year, according to the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA).

Still, residents who plan to burn their yard debris may do so after Oct. 15 in much of rural Thurston County after acquiring a residential burn permit from their local fire district, or online from ORCAA (http://www.orcaa.org/. All outdoor burning of residential materials in Thurston County is prohibited July 15 through October 15 each year. Furthermore, outdoor burning is prohibited year-round for residents within the cities of Olympia, Tumwater and Lacey, as well as for county residents within the Urban Growth Area (UGA) boundary.

Residents must remember the only material they may legally burn is natural vegetation gathered on site. State law prohibits the burning of garbage and home-repair debris. Burn barrels of any kind are also prohibited by state law.

Unregulated outdoor burning of any kind can contribute to poor air quality, but burning garbage and other debris—even scraps of milled wood products—is particularly problematic. Most household garbage contains a great deal of plastics, chemicals, coatings and chemically treated materials. When burned, this garbage and waste material releases toxic fumes and particles into the air.   This pollution can cause disease ranging from eye and respiratory irritation to potential cancers.

The seasonal bans were lifted Sept. 30 in Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Mason and Pacific Counties . But just because you can burn yard waste doesn’t mean you should.

Burning at any time adds to the air pollution levels in your local neighborhood, and residents are encouraged to seek alternatives to burning throughout the year. Furthermore, outdoor burning is prohibited year-round for residents within all cities and Urban Growth Area (UGA) boundaries.

Residents must remember the only material they may legally burn is natural vegetation gathered on site. State law prohibits the burning of garbage and home-repair debris. Burn barrels of any kind are also prohibited by state law.

Unregulated outdoor burning of any kind can contribute to poor air quality, but burning garbage and other debris—even scraps of milled wood products—is particularly problematic. Most household garbage contains a great deal of plastics, chemicals, coatings and chemically treated materials. When burned, this garbage and waste material releases toxic fumes and particles into the air.   This pollution can cause disease ranging from eye and respiratory irritation to potential cancers.

The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) encourages all residents to explore options such as chipping of woody debris, and composting of leaves and grass clippings rather than burning. “

The Clallam County Fire Marshall has upgraded their county-wide Burn Ban to include a prohibition on recreational fires anywhere in the county except within the Olympic National Park and other controlled campgrounds.

This change is effective immediately (Aug. 15). The decision was made due to the upgrade to “Moderate,” based on the Department of Natural Resources findings, and in conjunction with the Clallam County Fire Chief’s Association.

While a Burn Ban is in effect, any illegal burning will result with the property owner being liable for all fire suppressant costs, fines and fees, including prosecution.

Maintaining a 30-foot defensible space around structures will help aid fire fighters, by creating a green zone of protection around your personal property.

For more information concerning Defensible Space, look under Burning Restrictions, on the County’s website www.clallam.net

Thanks largely to a change in weather, air quality in ORCAA’s jurisdiction has improved substantially . As a result, the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency has lifted its Stage 1 Burn Ban  in Thurston County effective immediately.

To ensure clean, healthful air for all, ORCAA encourages residents to be responsible and to burn only when absolutely necessary even when mandatory restrictions are lifted. Air stagnation is possible throughout the winter and early spring. Voluntary reductions on indoor and outdoor burning in the region can help prevent elevated air pollution levels and therefore reduce the need for stringent burn restrictions.

People who would like to do their part to ensure clean, healthful air might consider the following simple acts to help protect the air we breathe:

• When possible, do not use any woodstove or fireplace.

• If you do have a fire in a certified stove or fireplace, consider using manufactured logs if you must burn. They are made from recycled wood products and burn cleaner than cut wood.

• Always use your woodstove or fireplace properly to ensure the cleanest burning possible. Remember that excess smoke is always illegal. To learn more about clean burning techniques and to find a current list of certified woodstoves and fireplaces, visit www.orcaa.org and click on the Programs tab in the top menu and scroll down to Woodstoves.

• Limit your driving as much as possible, since vehicles are a big source of air pollution year round.

• Check air-quality forecasts and current conditions at www.orcaa.org. The current and forecasted air-quality conditions are available via the links on the right. To learn about the health effects of air pollution, check out the American Lung Association of Washington’s Web site at www.alaw.org.