WA Burn Bans

September 21, 2010 - WA state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has lifted the statewide burn ban on DNR protected lands today. The ban was scheduled to conclude as early as September 30, 2010. However, heavy rains and recent low temperatures have eased fire danger.

However, your specific county or fire district may have existing seasonal bans in place. Contact your local air authority and fire district to determine if burn restrictions still exist in your area. Locate the telephone number and/or website for your air authority here.

Visit the WA DNR web site for more information :

source

Effective 0930 hrs PDT, August 06, 2010, and until further notice, a Stage 1 Burn Ban is called for Yakima County – BOTH the Upper Yakima County and the Lower Yakima County.

 Explanation: The Air Pollution Control Officer of the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency has called this ban due to deteriorating air quality conditions of increasing particulate content in the PM2.5 range, primarily due to wildfires in Canada, outdoor burning activity and inadequate ventilation, thereby impeding dilution and dispersion. These “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” (Orange) conditions are expected to last through the weekend.

 Please Note: This applies to all areas of Yakima County except for Yakama Indian Reservation lands, which are overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency, and fall under the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR) regulations.

 Burn Ban conditions will continue to be re-evaluated on a daily basis.

 Note: The maximum allowable level of airborne particulates in the 2.5 micron range (PM_2.5) under the current standard imposed by the Clean Air Act is 35μg/m³.  The new standard went into effect on December 18, 2006, raising the standard (by lowering the tolerated amount) from the previous limit of 65μg/m³.

A Stage I Burn Ban means that, until removed:

1. Agricultural burning for permit holders is prohibited
2. Residential Outdoor burning for permit holders is prohibited in all areas.
3. However unlikely this time of year, the use of any fireplace, uncertified wood stove or uncertified insert is prohibited unless it is the sole source of home heating.  Certified wood stove, certified fireplace insert or pellet stove/insert use is allowed.

The Office of the Air Pollution Control Officer of the YRCAA wishes to strongly encourage all Yakima County residents to refrain from unnecessary wood burning (ex: Recreational or Cooking Fires) until weather conditions change, allowing air conditions to improve and clear, bringing the current air quality health concern under control.

For further information on Continuing Conditions and Burn Ban Status, check the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency website at:  http://www.yakimacleanair.org or call THE YRCAA office at:  (509) 834-2050

In partnership with the NW Hearth, Patio and Barbeque Association as well as Olympic Region Clean Air Agency, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and NW Clean Air Agency, plans a series of clinics to help homeowners learn to operate their wood burning appliances cleanly and efficiently.

The FREE clinics are all scheduled for  Saturday, Jan. 23 at 11 a.m. Specific locations include:

King County

Kitsap County

Pierce County

Snohomish County

Clallam County

Jefferson County

Thurston County

Skagit County

Whatcom County

Additionally, if you want to lower your heating bill while helping keep our air clean and healthful, you could consider upgrading your heating equipment and/or improving your home energy efficiency. Best of all, there are many  tax incentives, rebates and other financial incentives to help you get the work done.

OFFERS, REBATES AND ASSISTANCE FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, YOUR LOCAL UTILITIES AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES

$1,500 FEDERAL TAX CREDIT FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY

If you purchase a qualifying energy-efficient product or renewable energy system for your home (principal residence) in 2009 and 2010, you may be eligible for a federal tax credit of 30% of consumer’s cost, up to $1,500.

LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP)

LIHEAP provides money to help low income households make home heating more affordable, avoid shutoff of utility services during the winter, and maintain a warm, safe, and healthy environment for households with young children, the elderly, and the disabled. LIHEAP offers both energy assistance as well as weatherization services.  Click here to find the program for your city or county.

USDA RURAL HOUSING REPAIR AND REHABILITATION GRANTS

Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation grants are available to dwelling owner/occupant. Provides financing to qualified very low income homeowners to repair or make improvements to their homes, such as health and safety hazards, home weatherization, utility hookups, repairs to manufactured home .  Click here for details and how to apply in Washington state.

PUGET SOUND ENERGY (PSE)

PSE provides natural gas and/or electric service to parts of Jefferson and Thurston Counties. For their customers, PSE provides a number of rebates and efficiency upgrade incentives. See all offers for Heating & Energy Efficiency Rebates

The current Stage 1 Burn Ban will be REMOVED effective 2:30 P.M. today Friday, January 15, 2010 for Yakima Upper County, effectively removing burn bans from all of Yakima County.   Only Agricultural Burning with a pre-approved Allocation to Burn will be allowed over the weekend.  Agricultural Burn Allocations will be issued only by direct contact with YRCAA staff.

YRCAA wishes to extend congratulations and thanks to all persons, families and businesses who, through understanding and cooperation helped us achieve an end to this long period of curtailment. 

“We can’t do it without your assistance.”

Reminder:

No Residential Outdoor Burning is allowed from October 15^th through March 14^th.

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

AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION: Please Note – Agricultural Burn Allocations will be authorized over the weekend, but can only be received by contacting YRCAA staff.

To receive Authorization and an Allocation for Agricultural Burning you must:

1.  Have a current Agricultural Burn Permit on file with YRCAA, and:

2.  Either call YRCAA in the afternoon prior to the day you wish to burn for confirmation of an allocation to burn, IF you wish to burn as early as permitted on the day you wish to burn (30 minutes after sunrise). OR,

3.  Call YRCAA after 9:00 A.M. on the morning of the day you wish to burn for confirmation of an allocation to burn.  You may not initiate burning until such confirmation has been determined by YRCAA, and an allocation issued.

For further information on Continuing Conditions and Burn Ban Status, please check the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency website at:  http://www.yakimacleanair.org  or call the YRCAA office at:  (509) 834-2050

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 .

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.