Stage One Burn Ban called for Pierce and Snohomish counties

January 23, 2008 – A Stage One Burn Ban is being called for Pierce and Snohomish counties, effective at 2:00 p.m., Jan. 23, 2008:

• No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves, unless this is your only adequate source of heat.
• No visible smoke is allowed from any wood stove or fireplace, certified or not, beyond a 20-minute start-up period.
• All outdoor burning is prohibited, even in areas where outdoor burning is not permanently banned.

Air quality levels in Pierce and Snohomish counties have degraded in the last 24 hours and are not expected to improve significantly until Saturday, compelling the agency to issue a Stage One Burn Ban for the designated counties.  This ban is expected to remain in place until noon on Saturday. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency staff will continue to monitor conditions in adjacent counties and, if necessary, possibly include them in the ban on Thursday. 

Of particular concern are fine particles released by smoke from uncertified wood stoves and open fireplaces. The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent 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.

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 certified fireplace insert, make sure you are using it properly so you don’t see any smoke more than 20 minutes after start up. Excess smoke is always illegal and can result in a citation. To learn more about clean burning techniques or upgrading to a certified wood, pellet, natural gas or propane stove, visit www.burningclean.com .
• To determine if your stove is certified, visit the “Wood Stoves & Fireplaces” section of www.pscleanair.org .
• 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 at http://www.pscleanair.org/airq/aqi.aspx# . 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.” 
• For detailed information regarding burn bans, visit www.pscleanair.org/airq/burnban/default.aspx .

For more information about Burn Ban regulations, you may refer to Chapter 173-433 of the Washington Administrative Code.

(Note: The Seattle Parks Department prohibits 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.