Burn Ban Update for Yakima County – 01/14/2010

By on January 14, 2010 at 12:58 in Burn Bans, General Air News, Yakama County, YRCAA

January 14, 2010

SUBJECT:    UPPER YAKIMA COUNTY – DOWNGRADED to a STAGE 1 BURN BAN

                        LOWER YAKIMA COUNTY –  The STAGE 1 BURN BAN is REMOVED

Explanation: The Air Pollution Control Officer of the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency (YRCAA) has upgraded this burn ban due to improved air quality in both the Upper and the Lower Yakima County areas. The high levels of fine particulate, caused primarily by wood stoves and outdoor burning, are trapped close to the ground by persistently inadequate ventilation.

There has been some air quality improvement in Upper Yakima County, but it has been insufficient to completely clear out the stagnant air mass.  Monitor values in the City of Yakima have decreased, allowing the Stage 2 Burn Ban for Upper Yakima County to be downgraded to a Stage 1 Burn Ban.  

Air Quality Conditions are sufficiently improved in Lower Yakima County today to justify removing the Stage 1 Burn Ban for home heating..

No Agricultural Burn Ban Allocations will be issued, however, until further notice.

YRCAA staff will continue to monitor the situation to determine if and when the burn ban can be lifted.

Please check our website for the latest information:

http://www.yakimacleanair.org , or call the YRCAA office at (509) 834-2050

Please Note: This applies to all areas of Yakima County except for Yakama Indian Reservation lands, which are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, under the Federal Air Rules for Reservations Regulations (FARR). For more information, visit the FARR website at www.epa.gov/r10earth/FARR.htm .

During a Stage 1 Burn Ban:
  1. All Outdoor Burning, including Agricultural burning, is prohibited;
  2. The use of any fireplace, uncertified wood stove or uncertified fireplace insert is prohibited unless it is the only adequate means of heating a home;
  3. Certified wood stove, certified fireplace insert or pellet stove/insert use is allowed;
  4. No excessive smoke is allowed from any wood burning device beyond a 20-minute start-up; and
  5. All violations of the burn ban are subject to civil penalty.

 

 

The Air Pollution Control Officer strongly encourages all Yakima County residents to refrain from burning until air quality improves and the risk to public health is diminished.

We make every effort to ensure that all burn ban announcements and restrictions are posted. Always call or visit your county and local clean air agency and check the DNR fire danger for the most current information.

Find out more information about RCW 70.94.473, WAC 173-425 and important key terms.

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