Conditions for wood stove use return to Green in all areas of Spokane County as of noon today Monday, December 19, 2011. Air Quality has been good and ventilation is expected to improve considerably in the next 24 to 48 hours. The Air Stagnation Advisory issued by the National Weather Service is scheduled to end at noon tomorrow Tuesday, December 20th. We do expect some increase in particulate levels as burning resumes. Spokane Clean Air encourages everyone to use good burning practices, use seasoned dry wood and make a small hot fire giving it lots of air for good combustion. And as always never burn garbage or house hold paper waste. After Christmas do not burn wrapping, packaging or your Christmas tree.
Outdoor burning such as recreational fires in Spokane County can resume as normally allowed this time of year. Forest Management / silvicultural burning can resume if allowed by rule burn or by conditions in your permit. Burning barrels and burning for disposal purposes is never allowed.
Stage 1 ”Condition Yellow” Burn Ban Continues
Only EPA certified wood burning devices and pellet stoves are allowed.
All outdoor burning is banned inSpokaneCounty.
The Stage 1 “Condition Yellow” burn ban issued, December 3, will continue until further notice. The National Weather Service has extended the Air Stagnation Advisory until Tuesday December 20th. Only EPA certified wood burning devices and pellet stoves are allowed. The use of any uncertified wood heating devices, including fireplaces, uncertified fireplace inserts and uncertified wood stoves, is banned in the Smoke Control Zone. All outdoor burning throughoutSpokaneCounty is also banned, including forest management/silvicultural burning.
We will continue to see some improvement during the day time hours but expect very high levels of particulates to buildup over night Sunday and on into the week. Stagnant weather conditions and elevated fine particle pollution are the main factors for issuing the burn ban.
Again under a Stage 1 burning 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.
- 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).
Wood burning devices, such as stoves, inserts and fireplaces are responsible for approximately 80% of the particulate (smoke) pollution inSpokaneCountyduring the winter months. Over 2,000 tons of fine particulates are released into the air during the wood burning season.
As is the case today, if particulate levels are on the rise and stagnant weather conditions prevail, Spokane Clean Air can restrict the use of wood stoves and other solid fuel burning devices. A three-stage system is used for reporting wood burning conditions, “Green,” “Yellow,” and “Red.”
Throughout the heating season, wood burners are advised to check current burning conditions prior to lighting any fires, by calling the Burning Information line at (509) 477-4710 or visiting www.spokanecleanair.org. While online, residents can subscribe to receive an email when a burn ban is issued and rescinded.
All jurisdictions in Spokane County have now lifted the ban on recreational fires. The public is reminded that there are rules related to recreational fires that need to be followed for their safety and the safety of their neighbors. Check with your local fire district or Spokane Clean Air for more information
The Burn Restrictions on open burning and recreational fires in the unincorporated areas of Spokane County, issued August 5, 2011, is rescinded as of September 28, 2011. This applies to recreational fires and permitted open burning. You must comply with your permit conditions. The Department of Natural Resources burn ban continues through September 30, 2011 on all DNR protected forest land.
By the Order of Local Fire Officials:
Effective August 5, 2011, open burning and unauthorized recreational fires are restricted, until further notice, in the following areas of Spokane County:
- City of Spokane
- Cities of Spokane Valley, Millwood and Liberty Lake
- Unincorporated areas of Spokane County
- Cities of Airway Heights, Cheney, Deer Park
The restriction is not intended to preclude the use of manufactured portable outdoor fireplaces, barbecues, outdoor fire-places or patio warmers, used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Only approved fuels may be used: seasoned (clean and dry) firewood, briquettes, natural or propane gas. Designated campfires in parks and camp-grounds may be allowed as approved and determined by agencies with jurisdiction. Disposal of vegetative waste in a recreational fire is prohibited at all times.
Failure to follow this restriction is a misdemeanor and shall be punishable upon conviction by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
