WA Burn Bans

Burn ban extended to Monday in =
Chelan, Douglas counties

OLYMPIA – Because air quality =
conditions did not improve as hoped, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is continuing a burn =
ban in Chelan and Douglas =
counties.

The =
Stage 1 burn ban on unnecessary use of uncertified wood stoves, inserts =
and fireplaces, and on all outdoor burning, is extended to 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 14. It =
originally was scheduled to expire Saturday morning and had been =
extended to Sunday.

People =
can easily breathe smoke from wood-burning devices that cold air traps =
close to the ground. Fine particles in smoke penetrate deep into the =
lungs, where they can damage sensitive =
tissues.

For updates, =
check local media reports, Ecology’s daily burn decision hotline =
(1-800-406-5322) or http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/outdoor_woodsmoke/burn_ban.ht=
m.

Under a =
Stage 1 ban:

=B7        =
Use of =
fireplaces, uncertified wood stoves and uncertified inserts is =
prohibited unless they are a =
home’s sole source of heat. =

=B7        =
All =
outdoor burning – including residential, agricultural and forest =
burning – is prohibited.

=B7        =
Use of =
certified wood-burning devices and pellet stoves is allowed. Ecology =
recommends burning hot fires using only clean, dry wood. =

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. Air pollution is especially =
harmful to children, people with heart and lung problems, and adults =
over age 65.

Ecology =
recommends that people limit vehicle trips, combine errands or use =
public transportation to reduce air =
pollution.

For a list of =
certified wood stoves and clean-burning tips, see http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/indoor_woodsmoke/wood_smoke_p=
age.htm.

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