Below are the most recent Burn Ban announcements in Yakama County


Click on the BOLD HEADING for more information

Effective 12:00 p.m.., Saturday, Januyary 28, 2012:

A Stage 1 Burn Ban has been declared for both the Upper and Lower Yakima County areas.

  • PM2.5 levels are increasing and are currently Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (Orange) in Upper County Area and Moderate (Yellow) in the Lower County area, with worsening predictions by this afternoon.
  • Weather predictions are for a low-level surface inversion with poor ventilation and dispersion for the next few days, including little or no surface winds; this may cause PM2.5 levels to continue increasing to Unhealthy levels.
  • No Agricultural Burning –  allocations are 0 piles per request for both Upper and Lower County Areas while the burn ban is in place.
  • We will re-evaluate the Burn Ban status again tomorrow morning.

 

Please Note:  Restrictions may differ within the exterior boundaries of the Yakama Reservation.  The Yakama Nation is addressing air quality issues in conjunction with the EPA, under the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR).  For up-to-date information there, please call 1-800-424-4EPA (1-800-424-4372) and ask for the FARR Hotline or visit the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR) website for the current burn status at www.epa.gov/r10earth/FARR.htm .

 

Reminder:

During a Stage 1 Burn Ban:

  1. All Outdoor Burning, including Agricultural burning, is prohibited;
  2. The use of any fireplace, uncertified wood stove or uncertified fireplace insert is prohibited unless it is the only adequate means of heating a home;
  3. Certified wood stove, certified fireplace insert or pellet stove/insert use is allowed;
  4. No excessive smoke (over 20% opacity) is allowed from any wood burning device beyond a 20-minute start-up; and
  5. All violations of the burn ban are subject to civil penalty.

 

Thank you for your cooperation.

Effective: 10:00 a.m. PST today, Wednesday, January 25, 2012:

 The Burn Ban for both Upper and Lower Yakima County areas has been REMOVED for all areas in YRCAA’s jurisdiction due to improved air quality conditions.

 The PM2.5 levels have decreased dramatically in the last 24 hours and are now at a “Healthy” level in both the Upper and the Lower County areas.  Ventilation and Dispersion are Poor to Fair for Yakima County.

•        PM2.5 Monitor values are currently Good (Green) in Upper and Lower County areas.

•        Poor ventilation and fair dispersion for today

•        Agricultural Burn allocation level is 4 – up to 50 tons for Upper and Lower County areas (see Outdoor Burning, below)

•        Note: Burn Ban conditions are re-evaluated daily – for your convenience you can also sign up for our Burn Ban E-mail Updates at http://www.yakimacleanair.org .

 

Outdoor Burning:

 Agricultural Burning will be allowed to resume, but only with a valid 2012 Agricultural Burn permit and approved Daily Burn Allocations.  Please call the YRCAA Office (509-834-2050) to receive a burn allocation.

  1. Reminder:  The period for Outdoor Residential Burning ended on the 15th of October, 2011.  Outdoor Residential burning will not resume until March 15th, 2012, with a 2012 Residential Burn Permit issued through this office.  

 Please Note:  Restrictions may differ within the exterior boundaries of the Yakama Reservation.  The Yakama Nationis addressing air quality issues in conjunction with the EPA, under the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR).  For up-to-date information there, please call 1-800-424-4EPA (1-800-424-4372) and ask for the FARR Hotline or visit the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR) website for the current burn status at www.epa.gov/r10earth/FARR.htm .

 

Effective: 12:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 24, 2012:

A Stage 1 Burn Ban has been declared for both the Upper and Lower Yakima County areas.

  • PM2.5 levels are increasing and are currently Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (Orange) in both Upper and Lower County Areas.
  • Weather predictions are for poor ventilation and dispersion for the next few days with calm surface winds; this may cause PM2.5 levels to continue increasing to Unhealthy levels.
  • No Agricultural Burning –  allocations are 0 piles per request for both Upper and Lower County Areas while the burn ban is in place
  • We will re-evaluate the Burn Ban status again tomorrow morning.

 Please Note:  Restrictions may differ within the exterior boundaries of the Yakama Reservation.  The Yakama Nation is addressing air quality issues in conjunction with the EPA, under the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR).  For up-to-date information there, please call 1-800-424-4EPA (1-800-424-4372) and ask for the FARR Hotline or visit the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR) website for the current burn status at www.epa.gov/r10earth/FARR.htm .

Reminder:

During a Stage 1 Burn Ban:

  1. All Outdoor Burning, including Agricultural burning, is prohibited;
  2. The use of any fireplace, uncertified wood stove or uncertified fireplace insert is prohibited unless it is the only adequate means of heating a home;
  3. Certified wood stove, certified fireplace insert or pellet stove/insert use is allowed;
  4. No excessive smoke (over 20% opacity) is allowed from any wood burning device beyond a 20-minute start-up; and
  5. All violations of the burn ban are subject to civil penalty.

 

Thank you for your cooperation.

Friday, January 13, 2012  2:00 p.m.:

The Stage 1 Burn Ban continues today, Friday, January 13, 2012, until tomorrow, Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 1:00 PM.

 Please be advised:

 The Stage 1 Burn Ban will be removed tomorrow, Saturday, starting 1:00 PM

 Information from the National Weather Service:

  • AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY remains in effect until 1:00 PM PST Saturday.
  • STAGNANT AIR CONDITIONS will persist through Saturday.
  • HUGH PRESSURE will keep a strong inversion over the region, trapping pollutants near the surface through Saturday.

 YRCAA ANNOUNCES FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW:

  • PM2.5 levels are currently Unhealthy (Orange) for Upper and Lower Valley and  Increasing.
  • Along with the high pressure inversion system are poor ventilation and dispersion
  • PM2.5 may be very high for today (Friday) and early Saturday.
  • No Agricultural Burn Allocation for today or Saturday.
  • Saturday is projected to have high air monitor values from 1:00 AM to 7:00 AM, improving after 1:00PM.

FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY

  • Burn allocation will be level 3, up to 100 tons for both Upper and Lower County areas.

 Outdoor Burning:

  1. 1.      Agricultural Burning will be allowed to resume on Sunday, but only with a valid 2012 Agricultural Burn permit and approved Daily Burn Allocations.  Please call the YRCAA Office (509-834-2050) to receive a burn allocation.
  2. 2.      Reminder:  The period for Outdoor Residential burning ended on the 15th of October, 2011.  Outdoor Residential burning will not resume until March 15th, 2012, with a 2012 Residential Burn Permit issued through this office. 

Please Note:  Restrictions may differ within the exterior boundaries of the Yakama Reservation.  The Yakama Nation is addressing air quality issues in conjunction with the EPA, under the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR).  For up-to-date information there, please call 1-800-424-4EPA (1-800-424-4372) and ask for the FARR Hotline or visit the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR) website for the current burn status at www.epa.gov/r10earth/FARR.htm .

Thanks to all who helped by observing this Burn Ban.

11:45 a.m., Wednesday, January 11, 2012

 The current Stage 1 Burn Ban will continue today and is likely to continue into the weekend

  •  PM2.5 levels are currently Good for Upper and Lower Valley;  however, the National Weather Service has issued an Air Stagnation Advisory and the forecast is looking very poor, so we will maintain the Stage 1 Burn Ban.
  • A high pressure system is causing an upper level inversion with poor ventilation and dispersion which will continue into the weekend.
  • Three days of strong inversions are expected to cause increased PM2.5 levels (pollution).  There will be a slight increase in atmospheric mixing on Saturday ahead of a cold front which should clean out the Yakima County air-shed on Sunday.
  • Certified woodstoves may be used but please refrain from outdoor burning or burning in uncertified woodstoves.
  • We will re-evaluate this afternoon.

YRCAA staff will continue to monitor the air quality to determine when any changes to the current burn ban should be made.  Air Quality conditions can change rapidly.

Please check our website for the most up-to-date information at: http://www.yakimacleanair.org  or call the YRCAA office at (509) 834-2050.

Please Note: The jurisdiction of YRCAA covers all of Yakima County, excluding Yakama Nation Reservation lands.  Restrictions may differ within the exterior boundaries of the Yakama Reservation.  The Yakama Nation is addressing air quality issues in conjunction with the EPA, under the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR).  For up-to-date information there, please call 1-800-424-4EPA (1-800-424-4372) and ask for the FARR Hotline or visit the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR) website for the current burn status at www.epa.gov/r10earth/FARR.htm .

Reminder:

During a Stage 1 Burn Ban:

  1. All Outdoor Burning, including Agricultural burning, is prohibited;
  2. The use of any fireplace, uncertified wood stove or uncertified fireplace insert is prohibited unless it is the only adequate means of heating a home;
  3. Certified wood stove, certified fireplace insert or pellet stove/insert use is allowed;
  4. No excessive smoke (over 20% opacity) is allowed from any wood burning device beyond a 20-minute start-up; and
  5. All violations of the burn ban are subject to civil penalty.