Posts by «pscleanair»
Continuing cold weather and rising air pollution have prompted a Stage 2 burn ban in Pierce and Snohomish counties, effective at 11 a.m. today; a Stage 1 burn ban remains in effect for King and Kitsap counties, according to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. These bans are in effect until further notice.
High pressure remains over the region, with stagnant conditions that caused air quality to degrade significantly last night in parts of Pierce and Snohomish counties, triggering the need for a Stage 2 burn ban. Areas of King and Kitsap counties also experienced elevated air pollution, but not enough to warrant the more restrictive Stage 2 ban. Clean Air Agency forecasters expect little wind today and through this evening. Pollution levels will remain high today through this evening, especially in communities where residential wood burning is common. In these communities air quality is likely to reach levels considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
For details visit pscleanair.org
The use of fireplaces and uncertified wood stoves is prohibited until air quality improves
To protect residents from worsening air quality, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is issuing a Stage 1 burn ban for King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties, effective at 4:00 p.m. January 11, 2012, until further notice.
High pressure over the Puget Sound region will bring cold temperatures and calm winds, according to Clean Air Agency forecasters. Air quality is expected to deteriorate at least through Friday, especially in communities where residential wood burning is common.
Clean Air Agency staff follow a protocol set by state law to determine when and where to issue a burn ban, and when to lift a burn ban.
During a Stage 1 burn ban:
- No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves. Residents should rely instead on their home’s other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled. The only exception is if a wood stove is a home’s only adequate source of heat.
- No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas.
- Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.
It is OK to use natural gas, propane, pellet and EPA certified wood stoves or inserts during a Stage 1 burn ban.
The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors, especially when exercising. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to people with lung and heart problems, people with diabetes, children, and older adults (over age 65).
The purpose of a burn ban is to reduce the amount of pollution that is creating unhealthy air. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency staff will continue to monitor the situation.
For more information:
# # #
The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is an air quality management agency serving King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Created as a result of the 1967 Washington Clean Air Act, the agency protects public health by adopting and enforcing air quality regulations, educating individuals and businesses about clean-air choices and sponsoring voluntary initiatives to improve air quality.
[December 14, 2011] Effective at 4:00 p.m. today, December 14, 2011, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is lifting the air quality burn bans issued for Pierce and Snohomish counties.
A weather system expected tonight will bring winds that will disperse air pollution and result in better air quality throughout the Puget Sound region.
We appreciate the public’s cooperation with the burn ban. We encourage people to always check current air quality and burn ban status before they burn. Conditions can change quickly this time of year. Visit our Web site www.pscleanair.org or call our burn ban InfoLine at 1-800- 595-4341.
For those who heat with wood, please remember that it is always illegal to emit excess chimney smoke or to smoke out your neighbor. You know you are burning properly when you do not see any smoke coming from your chimney.
For more information:
Updated air pollution data and forecasts
Frequently asked questions about burn bans
How to heat efficiently and cleanly
The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is an air quality management agency serving King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Created as a result of the 1967 Washington Clean Air Act, the agency protects public health by adopting and enforcing air quality regulations, educating individuals and businesses about clean-air choices and sponsoring voluntary initiatives to improve air quality.
Effective at 4:00 p.m. today, December 14, 2011, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is lifting the air quality burn bans issued for Pierce and Snohomish counties.
A weather system expected tonight will bring winds that will disperse air pollution and result in better air quality throughout the Puget Sound region.
We appreciate the public’s cooperation with the burn ban. We encourage people to always check current air quality and burn ban status before they burn. Conditions can change quickly this time of year. Visit our Web site www.pscleanair.org or call our burn ban InfoLine at 1-800- 595-4341.
For those who heat with wood, please remember that it is always illegal to emit excess chimney smoke or to smoke out your neighbor. You know you are burning properly when you do not see any smoke coming from your chimney.
For more information:
Updated air pollution data and forecasts
Frequently asked questions about burn bans
How to heat efficiently and cleanly
The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is an air quality management agency serving King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Created as a result of the 1967 Washington Clean Air Act, the agency protects public health by adopting and enforcing air quality regulations, educating individuals and businesses about clean-air choices and sponsoring voluntary initiatives to improve air quality.
Please rely on your home’s cleaner source of heat until air quality improves
[December 13, 2011] Continuing cold weather and rising air pollution have prompted a Stage 2 burn ban in Pierce County, effective at 12 p.m. noon today; a Stage 1 burn ban remains in effect for Snohomish county, according to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. These bans are in effect until further notice.
Air quality degraded last night in parts of Pierce County, triggering the need for a Stage 2 burn ban. Areas of Snohomish County also experienced elevated air pollution, but not enough to warrant the more restrictive Stage 2 ban. Clean Air Agency forecasters expect little wind this evening, which will cause air quality to again deteriorate throughout the region, especially in communities where residential wood burning is common. In these communities air quality could reach levels considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
Clean Air Agency staff follow a protocol set by state law to determine when and where to issue a burn ban, and when to lift a burn ban.
During a Stage 2 burn ban:
- No burning is allowed in ANY wood-burning fireplaces, wood stoves or fireplace inserts (certified or uncertified) or pellet stoves. Residents should rely instead on their home’s other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled. The only exception is if a wood stove is a home’s only adequate source of heat.
- No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas.
- Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.
It is OK to use natural gas and propane stoves or inserts during a Stage 2 burn ban.
During a Stage 1 burn ban:
- No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves. Residents should rely instead on their home’s other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled. The only exception is if a wood stove is a home’s only adequate source of heat.
- No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas.
- Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.
It is OK to use natural gas, propane, pellet and EPA certified wood stoves or inserts during a Stage 1 burn ban.
The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors, especially when exercising. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to people with lung and heart problems, people with diabetes, children, and older adults (over age 65).
The purpose of a burn ban is to reduce the amount of pollution that is creating unhealthy air. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency staff will continue to monitor the situation.
For more information:
Check burn ban status
Updated air pollution data and forecasts
Frequently asked questions about burn bans
Residential burn ban protocols
How can one tell if their wood stove is certified, and OK to use during a Stage 1 burn ban? Age matters – if the stove is over 20 years old, it is likely uncertified and prohibited for use during a burn ban. Uncertified wood stoves are no longer legal to sell or purchase in the State of Washington due to the significant pollution they generate. A certified stove will have an EPA label on the back.
# # #
The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is an air quality management agency serving King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Created as a result of the 1967 Washington Clean Air Act, the agency protects public health by adopting and enforcing air quality regulations, educating individuals and businesses about clean-air choices and sponsoring voluntary initiatives to improve air quality.
