In Effect July 15 – September 30, 2010

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced there will be a statewide burn ban on all DNR-protected lands July 15, 2010, through September 30, 2010. This means all forestlands in Washington except for federal lands.

“The threat of wildfires from escaped outdoor burning is high during the summer months due to unusual fire danger,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark. “Wildfires are dangerous for people and property and result in large expenditures of public funding that can be avoided through prudent actions to prevent them.”

The ban applies to all outdoor burning, including currently permitted burns, with the following exceptions:

1. Recreational fires in approved fire pits within designated state, county, municipal or other campgrounds, or
2. DNR-approved prescribed fire, 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 15th, 2010, through September 30th, 2010, or
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.

This burn ban takes precedence over and supersedes all other burn bans currently in effect on forestlands except federal lands.

Media Contact: Janet Pearce, Communications and Outreach, 360-902-1122, janet.pearce@dnr.wa.gov

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The current weather pattern has brought improved mixing and dispersion of fine particle pollution. As a result, air quality has improved sufficiently to allow the lifting our Stage 2 burn ban. Good air quality conditions are expected for the next 72 hours.

We appreciate the public’s cooperation with the burn ban, and encourage people to check current air quality conditions and air quality forecasts at our Web site   http://www.pscleanair.org/airq/aqi.aspx# before they burn. Conditions can change quickly this time of year.

For those who heat with wood, please remember that it is always illegal to emit excess chimney smoke and to smoke out your neighbor. You know you are burning properly when you do not see any smoke coming from your chimney. To learn more about the most efficient and cleanest burning techniques, visit http://www.pscleanair.org/burningbasics .

For additional information regarding burn bans or other air quality topics visit http://www.pscleanair.org .

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The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is an air quality management agency serving King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Created as a result of the 1967 Washington Clean Air Act, the agency protects public health and improves air quality by adopting and enforcing air quality regulations, educating individuals and businesses about clean-air choices and sponsoring voluntary initiatives to improve air quality.

http://www.pscleanair.org/news/newsroom/releases/2009/12_11_09_burn_ban_continues.aspx

According to the agency’s meteorology staff, the temperature inversion that has impacted the region this week is still in place while wood burning continues in some communities.  This has created pollution levels that are unhealthy for sensitive group populations (the very young, elderly and those individuals with heart and lung ailments).

A change in the weather pattern may allow lifting of the burn ban as early as Sunday afternoon.

During a Stage 2 burn ban:

• No burning is allowed in ANY wood-burning fireplaces, wood stoves or fireplace inserts (certified or uncertified) or pellet stoves, unless this is your only adequate source of heat. 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.
• Even if your fireplace, pellet stove, or wood stove is your only adequate source of heat, no visible smoke is allowed.
• No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas.
• Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

It is OK to use natural gas and propane stoves or inserts during a Stage 2 burn ban.

This ban is in effect until further notice.  Puget Sound Clean Air Agency staff will continue to monitor the situation to determine when the burn ban can be lifted. You can check conditions and forecasts at www.pscleanair.org/airq/aqi.aspx# .

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.

This is the first burn ban of the winter heating season.  A list of frequently asked questions and answers about burn bans is available on the Clean Air Agency’s web site at www.pscleanair.org/airq/burnban/faqs.aspx .  For additional information, visit www.pscleanair.org.

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The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is an air quality management agency serving King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Created because of the 1967 Washington Clean Air Act, the agency protects public health and improves air quality by adopting and enforcing air quality regulations, educating individuals and businesses about clean-air choices and sponsoring voluntary initiatives to improve air quality.

http://www.pscleanair.org/news/newsroom/releases/2009/12_09_09_burn_ban.aspx

Stable weather conditions, combined with heavy use of wood-burning devices in our region, have created pollution levels that are unhealthy for sensitive group populations (the very young, elderly and those individuals with heart and lung ailments). These weather conditions are expected to remain in place for several days, prompting the expansion of this Stage 2 burn ban to quickly reduce wood smoke emissions impacting communities throughout the central Puget Sound region.

We are closely monitoring air quality conditions and forecasted meteorology. Weather conditions allowing the removal of the Stage 2 ban are not expected before Saturday.  

During a Stage 2 burn ban:

• No burning is allowed in ANY wood-burning fireplaces, wood stoves or fireplace inserts (certified or uncertified) or pellet stoves, unless this is your only adequate source of heat. 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.
• Even if your fireplace, pellet stove, or wood stove is your only adequate source of heat, no visible smoke is allowed.
• No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas.
• Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

It is OK to use natural gas and propane stoves or inserts during a Stage 2 burn ban.

This ban is in effect until further notice.  Puget Sound Clean Air Agency staff will continue to monitor the situation to determine when the burn ban can be lifted. You can check conditions and forecasts at www.pscleanair.org/airq/aqi.aspx# .

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.

This is the first burn ban of the winter heating season.  A list of frequently asked questions and answers about burn bans is available on the Clean Air Agency’s web site at www.pscleanair.org/airq/burnban/faqs.aspx .  For additional information, visit www.pscleanair.org.

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The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is an air quality management agency serving King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Created because of the 1967 Washington Clean Air Act, the agency protects public health and improves air quality by adopting and enforcing air quality regulations, educating individuals and businesses about clean-air choices and sponsoring voluntary initiatives to improve air quality.

King County will lift the burn ban at 8 a.m. Thursday, September 10, 2009. Please refer to the DDES burn ban news release for detailed information.

When there is a change in status, King County will update the fire safety burn ban status here and issue a news release.

A fire safety burn ban that the King County Fire Marshal Division imposes applies to areas outside the jurisdiction of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (external link). The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is the air quality authority for the greater Puget Sound area and restricts burning in more urban, densely populated areas.

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The Department of Natural Resources, fire departments and fire districts have agreed to implement a burn ban in King, County effective 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, 2009 and move the fire danger rating to Moderate. The ban will remain in effect until further notice. The ban applies to silvicultural, and yard debris burning. Recreational campfires are allowed in campgrounds as long as the fire is in an approved metal or concrete fire pit and clear of vegetation. The burn restrictions do not apply to federal forests or national parks, although these jurisdictions may have similar restrictions in effect.