Due to an extended air stagnation forecast and persistent high levels of fine particle air pollution in Clark County, the Southwest Clean Air Agency (SWCAA) is issuing a Stage 2 Burn Ban effective immediately throughout Clark County. Continued strong evening-to-morning inversions followed by inhibited daytime ventilation and dispersion have caused fine particle air pollution levels to rise to the federal health-based standard. These stagnant conditions are now forecast to continue through the work week. The use of all fireplaces, wood stoves and inserts, and pellet stoves is prohibited until air quality improves and the Stage 2 Burn Ban is lifted. If wood burning is your only source of heat, you are exempt from this curtailment and we ask that you burn as clean as possible. All outdoor burning is also prohibited during this Stage 2 Burn Ban.
Below are the most recent Burn Ban announcements in Clark County
Click on the BOLD HEADING for more information
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 2, 2011
Stage 1 Burn Ban Being Declared for Clark County
The use of fireplaces and uncertified
wood stoves will be prohibited until air quality improves. Households without
an 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. Friday, December 2, 2011 for all of Clark
County. Fine particle pollution levels
rose quickly Thursday night into Friday morning due to stagnant weather
patterns. Evening inversions followed by
poor daytime ventilation and dispersion is forecasted to continue for the upcoming
weekend, and into next week. This
stagnant weather pattern means that the use of all fireplaces, uncertified wood
stoves and inserts is prohibited until air quality improves and the Stage 1
Burn Ban is lifted. All outdoor burning is also prohibited
during this Stage 1 Burn Ban, which will remain in place until further notice. If air quality continues to deteriorate, this
Burn Ban may have to be 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 sole source of heat, you are exempt and we ask that you
burn as clean as possible.
In effect July 1 – September 30, 2011
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced there will be a statewide burn ban on all DNR-protected lands July 1, 2011, through September 30, 2011. This means all forestlands in Washington under DNR fire protection; the burn ban does not apply to federal lands.
The threat of wildfires from escaped outdoor burning is high during the summer months due to dry forest vegetation. Each year, DNR strives to keep all wildfires under 10 acres. Last year, DNR had 71 wildfire starts simply from escaped outdoor burn piles, which burned approximately 153 acres.
“Wildfires are dangerous for people and property and result in large expenditures of public funding that can be avoided through prevention,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark. The ban will apply to all outdoor burning on DNR-protected forestlands, including currently permitted burns, with the following exceptions:
1. Recreational fires in approved fire pits within designated state, county, municipal or other campgrounds, and
2. DNR-approved prescribed fires, implemented to enhance or restore fire-dependent ecosystems and forest health, when enhancement and restoration by prescribed fire can only be accomplished successfully during the period of time from July 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011, and
3. As approved in writing by DNR when there are compelling reasons for an exception.
The use of gas and propane self-contained stoves and barbeques will continue to be allowed under the ban.
When implemented, the burn ban will take precedence over and supersede all other burn bans currently in effect on DNR-protected forestlands. The burn ban does not apply to federal lands.
DNR’s wildfire mission
Administered by Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark, DNR is responsible for preventing and fighting wildfires on 12.7 million acres of private, state and tribal-owned forestlands. DNR is the state’s largest on-call fire department, with over 1,000 employees trained and available to be dispatched to fires as needed. During fire season, this includes over 700 DNR employees who have other permanent jobs with the agency and about 375 seasonal workers. Additionally, Department of Correction inmates participate in the DNR correctional camps program. DNR also participates in Washington’s coordinated interagency approach to firefighting.
Media Contact: Janet Pearce, Communications and Outreach, 360-902-1122, janet.pearce@dnr.wa.gov
source: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/RecreationEducation/News/Pages/2011_05_06_burnban_nr.aspx
VANCOUVER, Wash. – Due to forecasted improvements in weather patterns and air quality conditions, the Southwest Clean Air Agency (SWCAA) is removing the Stage 1 Burn Ban for Clark County effective at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. The restrictions on using wood stoves and fireplaces in Clark County will then be lifted. At that time residents may once again use their wood stoves and fireplaces, but are asked to burn as cleanly as possible. For those who heat with wood, please remember that it is always illegal to produce excess chimney smoke and to smoke out your neighbor regardless of burn ban status. You know you are burning properly when you do not see any smoke coming from your chimney. For more information about cleaner wood burning techniques, please visit www.swcleanair.org/burnclean.html.
As of Friday at 4:00 p.m., in areas of Clark County where burning has not been permanently banned, outdoor burning will again be allowed with the proper permits. However, all burning adds to the air pollution levels in your local community, and residents are encouraged to seek alternatives to burning throughout the year. When outdoor burning does take place, note that only natural vegetation may be burned. State law prohibits the burning of garbage, construction debris and other prohibited materials at any time. Burn barrels are also prohibited by state law.
Founded in 1968, the mission of the Southwest Clean Air Agency is to preserve and enhance the air quality in southwest Washington. Serving the counties of Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Skamania and Wahkiakum, SWCAA is responsible for protecting the public’s health through the enforcement of federal, state and local air quality standards and regulations.
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Effective 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 22,2011, a Stage 1 Woodstove Curtailment has been called for Clark County. This Burn Ban will be in effect until further notice. All outdoor burning, as well as burning in uncertified woodstoves and fireplaces is prohibited. For more information you may go to the Southwest Clean Air Agency’s website at www.swcleanair.org.