WA Burn Bans

OLYMPIA – A burn ban starts at 4 p.m. today (Friday, Dec. 9, 2011) for Kittitas County, where stagnant air continues to trap harmful smoke, according to the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology).

Ecology’s Stage 1 burn ban for Kittitas County will continue until at least 10 a.m. Tuesday (Dec. 13), when it could be called off or extended. The Stage 1 ban applies 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.

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 millions of dollars in health-care costs each year in Washington. (www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0902021.html)

For updates, check local media reports, Ecology’s daily burn decision hotline (1-800-406-5322) and Ecology’s website. (http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/outdoor_woodsmoke/burn_ban.htm) You also can check www.waburnbans.net.

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)

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/)

                                    KITTITAS COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL

 411 N. Ruby St., Suite 2, Ellensburg, WA  9892       Office (509) 962-7657      Fax (509) 962-7682

• Fire District 51 (Snoqualmie Pass) allows small cook fires no greater than 2’ x 2’ in diameter, with prior approval of the Fire Chief. 
• The burn ban does not include Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue (Ellensburg area) and Fire District 4 (Vantage area). 

 The Washington State Department of Natural Resources has implemented a state-wide burn ban on all DNR protected lands which applies to all outdoor burning, including currently permitted burns, with the following exceptions:

1.  Recreational fires in approved pits within designated campgrounds, or
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 time-frame that the burn ban has been implemented, 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 are allowed under the ban.  If you are unsure whether an area of land falls under DNR protection, please contact the Department of Natural Resources.

 If you have additional questions, you may contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at 509-962-7000 or the individual fire districts listed below:

Fire District 1 (Thorp Area)

DJ Evans, Fire Chief

PO Box 34, Thorp, WA 98946

10700 North Thorp Hwy, Thorp, WA 98946

Office phone 509-964-2435

Cell Phone 509-929-0131

Fire District 3 (Easton Area)

Craig McKee, Fire Chief

PO Box 161

Easton, WA 98925

Office Phone 509-656-0155

Fire District 51 (Snoqualmie Pass)

Matt Cowan, Fire Chief

PO Box 99

Snoqualmie Pass, WA 98068

206-396-6287

Fire District 6 (Ronald Area)

Tim Milbert, Fire Chief

70 Atlantic Ave.

Ronald, WA

509-260-1220

Fire District 7 (Cle Elum Area—outside the city limits of the City of Cle Elum)

Russ Hobbs, Fire Chief

PO Box 777

South Cle Elum, WA 98943

509-304-8195

Fire District 8 (Kachess Area)

Monty Moore, Fire Chief

PO Box 618

Easton, WA 98925

509-617-4521

montlm@aol.com

Department of Natural Resources

713 Bowers Road

Ellensburg, WA 98926

509-925-8510

Not included in the burn ban

 Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue

John Sinclair, Fire Chief/Emergency Manager

102 North Pearl

Ellensburg, WA 98926

sinclairj@kvfr.org

Cell-509-856-7714

Office-509-933-7235

Home-509-925-6501

 Fire District 4

Bryan Stockdale, Fire Chief

PO Box 1401

Vantage, WA 98950

509-856-2333

vantage@fairpoint.net

As of today, Fire District 6 does not have a burn ban however you are limited to a 3ft x 3ft max camp fire using natural cut firewood.  No yard debris burning.

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

OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is extending a burn ban in Kittitas County because stagnant air conditions are not improving.

Ecology’s Stage 2 burn ban for Kittitas County is remain in effect until at least 10 a.m. Friday (Jan. 7, 2011). The Stage 2 ban applies to use of all wood stoves, inserts and fireplaces, and to all outdoor burning.

Under a Stage 2 ban:

* Use of all types of fireplaces, wood stoves and inserts is prohibited
unless they are a home’s only source of heat.

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

The National Weather Service has issued an air stagnation advisory for much of Eastern Washington.

Smoke from outdoor burning, wood stoves and fireplaces is likely to build 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. For updates, check local media reports, Ecology’s daily burn decision hotline (1-800-406-5322) and www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/outdoor_woodsmoke/burn_ban.htm.

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

The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution should limit the time they spend outdoors. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. 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’s very similar to the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s national information tool, the Air Quality Index (AQI). Both use color-coded categories to show when air quality is good, moderate or unhealthy. (https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/Default.htm).

The difference is that WAQA shows that air quality is unhealthy earlier, when fewer fine particles are in the air. For more information, see this Ecology focus sheet. (http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0802022.pdf)

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Media Contact: Seth Preston, Ecology communications manager,
360-407-6848; 360-584-5744 cell; seth.preston@ecy.wa.gov

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