WA Burn Bans

(Seattle, Wash. – January 4,2011)  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 has called for a continuation of a burn ban on all outdoor burning  on the following reservations in Washington due to stagnant air conditions as a high pressure system continues in the region.

The burn ban will continue for the  following reservations:

Chehalis Reservation, Wash.
Muckleshoot Reservation, Wash.
Nisqually Reservation, Wash.
Port Gamble Reservation, Wash.
Puyallup Reservation, Wash.
Stillaguamish Reservation, Wash.
Port Madison Reservation, Wash.
Tulalip Reservation, Wash.

The EPA Region 10 has also called a burn ban for the following additional reservations

Warm Springs Reservation , Oregon

Yakama Reservation, Wash.

The status of these burn bans will be updated on Wednesday, January 5th.

The burn ban applies to all outdoor and agricultural burning, including camping and recreational fires within reservation boundaries.   Ceremonial and traditional fires are exempt from the outdoor burn ban.

EPA also requests that reservation residents reduce all sources of air pollution, including excess driving and idling of vehicles, and the use of woodstoves and fireplaces, unless it is your only source of heat.

Air pollution can have significant health impacts.  Cooperation from the community will help people who are at risk during this period.  Those most at risk are children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with respiratory, cardiac or pulmonary diseases.  Those at risk should avoid outdoor exercise and minimize exposure to outdoor pollution as much as possible.

Please call 1-800-424-4EPA 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

Gary Olson
OAWT  Suite 900
EPA Region 10
1200 6th Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
206-553-0977

Find out more information about RCW 70.94.473, WAC 173-425 and important key terms.