WA Burn Bans

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.

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.

Clark County Stage 2 Burn Ban Lifting Friday Afternoon

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Due to favorable weather patterns and improving air quality conditions, the Southwest Clean Air Agency (SWCAA) is removing the Stage 2 Burn Ban for Clark County effective 2:00 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 7, 2011. The restrictions on using wood stoves and fireplaces in Clark County will then be lifted. Tomorrow afternoon 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. 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.

“This past week has demonstrated how wood smoke from individual households can affect an entire community,” said Jackie Brown, air quality specialist with the Southwest Clean Air Agency, “so we ask that if people must burn, that they use only dry, seasoned firewood and follow clean burning practices.”

As of Friday at 2:00 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, burning at any time 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, home-repair debris, and other prohibited materials at any time. Burn barrels of any kind are also prohibited by state law.

The Stage 1 Burn Bans in Cowlitz and Lewis Counties lifted on Wednesday, Jan. 5 due to changing weather patterns which cleared up much of the air pollution in the two counties. Contrary to what normally occurs, the light rain in Clark County did not improve the air quality enough to lift the Stage 2 Burn Ban at the same time.

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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Stage 1 Burn Ban Lifted for Cowlitz and Lewis Counties
Stage 2 Burn Ban in Clark County Remains in Effect

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Due to favorable weather patterns and improving air quality conditions, the Southwest Clean Air Agency (SWCAA) is removing the Stage 1 Burn Ban called for Cowlitz County and Lewis County effective 5:00 p.m. on January 5, 2011. The restrictions on using wood stoves and fireplaces in Cowlitz County and Lewis County will then be lifted. 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. 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.

Outdoor burning is allowed in Cowlitz and Lewis Counties with the proper permits in areas where burning has not been permanently banned. Burning at any time adds to the air pollution levels in your local neighborhood, and residents are encouraged to seek alternatives to burning throughout the year.

In Clark County, the Stage 2 Burn Ban remains in place due to slower than expected clearing of high levels of air pollution from the last few days. Agency staff will continue to monitor the weather and air quality conditions for signs of sustained improvement. Under the Stage 2 Burn Ban still in effect for Clark County, all wood heating is prohibited, including certified units, unless it is your sole source of heat.

“Contrary to what normally occurs, the light rain in Clark County is not improving our air quality and, thus, we cannot justify lifting the burn ban without a marked and sustained improvement in air quality,” said Bob Elliott, executive director at the Southwest Clean Air Agency.

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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