First Burn Ban of the Season Called for Yakima County

By on December 1, 2010 at 09:52 in Burn Bans, Yakama County, YRCAA

December 1, 2010

Please be advised:

DATE:           Monday, December 01, 2010

TIME:            11:30 AM

TO:                 Media and Reporting Fire Districts

FROM:           Dave Caprile, PIO, YRCAA

SUBJECT:      UPPER & LOWER YAKIMA COUNTY – BURN BAN UPGRADED to STAGE 2

Effective 11:30 AM today, a Stage 1 Burn Ban is upgraded to Stage 2 for all of Yakima County (except land within the exterior boundaries of the Yakama Indian Reservation) – BOTH the Upper and the Lower Yakima County areas.  This curtailment is currently projected to extend until Saturday December 4th 2010 or until conditions improve.

Explanation: The Air Pollution Control Officer of the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency (YRCAA) has declared this first-of-the-season burn ban due to impaired air quality and associated adverse health effects caused by high levels of fine particulate. The high levels of fine particulate are trapped close to the ground by persistent inversion and inadequate ventilation.

YRCAA staff will continue to monitor the situation to determine if and when the burn ban can be lifted.

Please check our website for the latest information:

http://www.yakimacleanair.org , or call the YRCAA office at (509) 834-2050

Please Note: This applies to all areas of Yakima County except for Yakama Indian Reservation lands, which are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, under the Federal Air Rules for Reservations Regulations (FARR). For more information, visit the FARR website at www.epa.gov/r10earth/FARR.htm .

During a Stage 1 Burn Ban: During a Stage 2 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 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.

 
  1. All Outdoor Burning, including Agricultural burning, is prohibited;
  2. The use of any solid-fuel burning fireplace, stove or fireplace insert (including certified devices) is prohibited unless it is the only adequate means of heating a home;

Note: The most commonly used “solid fuels” are wood, manufactured logs, pellets and coal.

  1. No excessive smoke is allowed from any wood burning device beyond a 20-minute start-up; and
  2. All violations of the burn ban are subject to civil penalty.

 

 The Air Pollution Control Officer strongly encourages all Yakima County residents to refrain from burning – even those legally able to do so – until air quality improves and the risk to public health is diminished.

We make every effort to ensure that all burn ban announcements and restrictions are posted. Always call or visit your county and local clean air agency and check the DNR fire danger for the most current information.

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

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