Three-county Burn Ban in effect until further notice

 

Dec. 9, 2005 – A Stage One Burn Ban is being called for King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, effective at 5 p.m. today and continuing at least through the weekend. No burning is allowed in uncertified wood stoves or fireplaces, and all outdoor burning is prohibited, even in areas where outdoor burning is not permanently banned.

High pressure over the Pacific Northwest, with clear skies and nighttime temperatures below freezing, is causing air pollution levels to climb. The high pressure is expected to remain through the weekend. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency staff will continue to monitor the situation to determine when the burn ban can be lifted. In the meantime, here are some other things people can do to help protect the air we breathe:

• If you have a certified wood stove or fireplace insert, make sure you are using it properly so you don’t produce excess chimney smoke. Excess smoke is always illegal. To learn more about clean burning techniques or upgrading to a certified, natural gas or propane stove, visit www.burningclean.com.
• To determine if your stove is certified, visit Woodstoves and fireplaces.
• Limit your driving as much as possible, since vehicles are a big source of air pollution year round.
• Check air-quality forecasts and current conditions. You can see how the Puget Sound region’s current and forecasted air-quality rate on the Air Quality Index, a color-coded system for rating the levels of pollution. Our goal is to “keep it in the green.”

To learn about the health effects of air pollution, check out the American Lung Association of Washington’s Web site.

(Note: The Seattle Parks Department will prohibit beach fires at Alki and Golden Gardens during the burn ban.)

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is an air quality management agency serving King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Created as a result of the 1967 Washington Clean Air Act, the agency protects public health and improves air quality by adopting and enforcing air quality regulations, educating individuals and businesses about clean-air choices and sponsoring voluntary initiatives to improve air quality.

Alice Collingwood, Communications Manager
Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
office 206.689.4043 or cell 206.618.9734
alicec@pscleanair.org