WA Burn Bans

The Stage 2 Burn Ban declared this past Monday will remain in effect for all of Yakima County until air quality improves.  This includes BOTH the Upper and the Lower Yakima County areas. The Air Pollution Control Officer of the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency is continuing this Burn Ban primarily as a result of persistently elevated air monitor values (impaired air quality) exacerbated locally by an upper-level air inversion and air
stagnation.  The inversion will carry on throughout most of the day with winds less than 5 mph, limiting vertical mixing.  These conditions and the NWS Air Stagnation Advisory are expected to last through Friday.

• The PM_2.5 air quality monitors are at levels of “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” and “Unhealthy” this morning.
  • The Upper County area WAQA value is at Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (orange), and
  • The Lower County area WAQA value is at an Unhealthy (red) level.
•  At these PM2.5 levels, it is recommended that people limit their outdoor activity, especially those with lung and heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or respiratory infections, infants, children, and older adults.  For these categories, it is recommended to:
• Combine any necessary errands whenever possible
• Refrain from excessive outdoor excercise
• Keep any emergency medication handy
• If in distress, contact your health-care professional immediately

 This Stage 2 Burn Ban is expected to remain in place at least into this Friday, December 9^th.

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 .

During a Stage 2 Burn Ban:

1. All Outdoor Burning, including  Agricultural burning, is prohibited;
2. The use of any solid-fuel burning fireplace, wood stove or fireplace insert 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.
3. No excessive smoke is allowed from any wood burning device beyond a 20-minute start-up; and
4. All violations of the burn ban are subject to civil penalty.

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