WA Burn Bans

Below are the most recent Burn Ban announcements in Burn Bans

Click on the BOLD HEADING for more information

Stage 1 Burn Ban called for Thurston County, Effective 5 p.m. Friday, February 3, 2012, which was posted on February 3, 2012

A Stage One Burn Ban is being called for Thurston County effective 5 p.m. today (Feb. 3, 2012) and continuing through the weekend at least.

Under a Stage 1 Ban, no burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves, and all outdoor burning is prohibited, even in areas where outdoor burning is not permanently banned. Additionally, no visible smoke is allowed from any wood stove or fireplace, certified or not, beyond a 20-minute start-up period.

A system of stable, high pressure over the South Puget Sound region, coupled with cold overnight temperatures has resulted in air pollution levels climbing enough to raise concerns about the air quality and its impacts on health. A change in weather will be needed to restore cleaner air quality, yet that’s not forecast to occur until sometime next week at the earliest.

While pollution levels in Thurston County warrants the Stage 1 Ban, other counties within the jurisdiction of the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) haven’t reached that level. To avoid bans in their areas, the residents of Mason, Pacific, Grays Harbor, Clallam and Jefferson Counties are asked to voluntarily refrain from all outdoor burning, and to use safe alternatives to wood heat if possible.

Of particular concern are fine particles released by smoke from wood stoves and fireplaces. The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to children, people with heart and lung problems, and adults over age 65.

Olympic Region Clean Air Agency staff will continue to monitor the situation to determine when the burn ban can be lifted. In the meantime, here are some other things people can do to help protect the air we breathe:

If you have a certified wood stove or fireplace insert, make sure you are using it properly so you don’t produce excess chimney smoke. Excess smoke is always illegal. To learn more about clean burning techniques or upgrading to a certified, pellet, natural gas or propane stove, visit http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/
To determine if your stove is certified, visit www.orcaa.org.
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.

For more information about Burn Ban regulations, you may refer to Chapter 173-433 of the Washington Administrative Code.

Stage 1 Burn Ban Issued for Pierce County, which was posted on February 3, 2012

To protect public health from rising air pollution levels, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is issuing a Stage 1 burn ban in Pierce County, effective at 4 p.m. February 3, 2012. This ban is in effect until further notice.

High pressure is building east of the Cascade Mountains through the weekend. Dry, stagnant air is expected in Pierce County, resulting in rising air pollution, especially in communities where residential wood burning is common. With stagnant conditions expected to continue through the weekend and beyond, pollution levels could reach the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” category at some locations.

For details, visit pscleanair.org.

Burn bans start Friday in Ferry, Stevens, Okanogan counties, which was posted on February 2, 2012

OLYMPIA – Burn bans start at 4 p.m. Friday (Feb. 3, 2012) in Ferry, Okanogan and Stevens counties, where air quality is expected to worsen this week, according to the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology).

Ecology’s Stage 1 burn bans for Ferry, Okanogan and Stevens counties will continue until at least 10 a.m. Monday (Feb. 6), when they could be called off or extended. The Stage 1 bans apply to unnecessary use of uncertified wood-burning devices (including wood stoves, inserts and fireplaces) and to all outdoor burning.

Stage 1 burn bans remain in effect in Chelan and Douglas counties until at least 10 a.m. Monday (Feb. 6).

Ecology’s burn bans do not apply on tribal reservations, where the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has jurisdiction.

Smoke from outdoor burning and wood-burning devices builds up where cold air is trapped near the ground. Fine particles in smoke are so small they can easily get into your lungs. Once there, they can cause heart and breathing problems, and even death. Children, people with asthma and respiratory illnesses, and adults older than 65 are most at risk.

Under a Stage 1 ban:

• Use of uncertified wood-burning devices – including fireplaces, wood stoves and inserts – is prohibited unless they are a home’s only source of heat. Uncertified units typically were built before 1990 and lack a certification label on the back of the unit.

• All outdoor burning – including residential, agricultural and forest burning – is prohibited.

• Use of certified wood-burning devices and pellet stoves is allowed. Ecology recommends burning hot fires using only clean, dry wood.

• No excessive smoke is allowed from any wood-burning device beyond a 20-minute start-up.

Burn ban violators are subject to civil penalties.

A 2009 Ecology analysis estimates that fine particles contribute to about 1,100 deaths and about $190 million in health-care costs each year in Washington. (http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0902021.html)

For burn ban updates:

• Check local media reports.
• Call Ecology’s daily burn decision hotline (1-800-406-5322 in Washington).
• Check Ecology’s burn bans web page. (http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/outdoor_woodsmoke/burn_ban.htm)
• Go online to www.waburnbans.net.

You can report burn ban violators by calling Ecology’s smoke complaint hotline (1-866-211-6284).

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).

Ecology recommends that people limit vehicle trips, combine errands or use public transportation to reduce air pollution.

You can track air quality in your area by using the Washington Air Quality Advisory (WAQA). This is Ecology’s tool for informing people about the health effects of air pollution, including fine particles. It uses color-coded categories to show when air quality is good, moderate or unhealthy. (https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/Default.htm)

For more information about WAQA, see this Ecology focus sheet. (http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0802022.pdf)

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See a list of certified wood stoves and other information (http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/indoor_woodsmoke/wood_smoke_page.htm)

Tips on getting the most heat from your firewood
(http://burndryfirewood.com/)

Ecology’s website: http://www.ecy.wa.gov

Ecology’s social media: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/about/newmedia.html

EPA calls burn bans for several reservations beginning Friday, February 3, 2012 at 8 a.m., which was posted on February 2, 2012

(Seattle, Wash. – February 2, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 has called a burn ban on all outdoor burning starting Friday, February 3, 2012 at 8 AM PST on the following reservations in Washington due to stagnant air conditions as a high pressure system settles in the region. This burn ban will be in place until further notice.

The burn ban will be in effect for the following reservations:

Nisqually Reservation Wash.

Muckleshoot Reservation, Wash.,

Chehalis Reservation, Wash,

Puyallup Reservation, Wash.

Colville Reservation, Wash,

Spokane Reservation, Wash,.

Yakama Reservation, Wash.

The burn ban applies to all outdoor and agricultural burning, including camping and recreational fires within reservation boundaries. Ceremonial and traditional fires are exempt from the outdoor burn ban.

EPA also requests that reservation residents reduce all sources of air pollution, including excess driving and idling of vehicles, and the use of woodstoves and fireplaces, unless it is your only source of heat.

Air pollution can have significant health impacts. Cooperation from the community will help people who are at risk during this period. Those most at risk are children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with difficulty breathing and with heart and lung problems. Those at risk should avoid outdoor exercise and minimize exposure to outdoor pollution as much as possible.

Please call 1-800-424-4EPA and ask for the FARR Hotline or visit the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR) website for the current burn status at www.epa.gov/r10earth/FARR.htm.

EPA Calls Burn Ban for Several Reservations in Washington Starting Friday, February 3 at 8 AM

Contact:
Gary Olson, 206-553-0977, olson.gary@epa.gov
Keith Rose, 206-553-1949, rose.keith@epa.gov

Burn bans issued for Chelan, Douglas counties, which was posted on January 31, 2012

Burn bans issued for Chelan, Douglas counties

OLYMPIA – Burn bans start at 4 p.m. today (Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012) in Chelan and Douglas counties, where air quality is expected to worsen this week, according to the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology).

Ecology’s Stage 1 burn bans for Chelan and Douglas counties will continue until at least 10 a.m. Monday (Feb. 6), when they could be called off or extended. The Stage 1 bans apply to unnecessary use of uncertified wood-burning devices (including wood stoves, inserts and fireplaces) and to all outdoor burning.

Ecology’s burn bans do not apply to tribal lands, where the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has jurisdiction.