Message from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
Stage 1 burn ban called for King, Kitsap, and Snohomish counties; remains in effect for Pierce County
January 18, 2009 – Due to stagnant weather conditions and increasing air pollution levels, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is expanding a Stage 1 burn ban to include King, Kitsap and Snohomish counties effective 12:00 PM, January 18, 2009. The ban in Pierce County issued Friday remains in effect.
Stagnant weather conditions are entrenched over the Puget Sound area and expected to persist through Wednesday night. These conditions greatly increase the potential for air pollution to reach levels considered unhealthy for sensitive population groups. The Clean Air Agency is closely monitoring these conditions and will take additional actions as necessary if conditions degrade to unacceptable levels.
During a Stage 1 burn ban:
*No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves, unless this is your only adequate source of heat. Residents should rely instead on their home’s other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled.
*Natural gas, propane and pellet stoves or inserts ARE allowed.
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. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas. Burning of storm and flood damage debris is also prohibited.
*Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.
(Note: The Seattle Parks Department prohibits beach fires at Alki and Golden Gardens during the burn ban.)
This ban is in effect until further notice.
Puget Sound Clean Air Agency staff will continue to monitor the situation to determine when the burn ban can be lifted. You can check conditions and forecasts at http://m1e.net/c?89487606-2LuFIG7kBpWNo%403906342-qhoH/zvQHCPCE
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.
This is the first burn ban of the season and the first since a new state law went into effect lowering the air-quality trigger for calling a burn ban. The trigger level was lowered to align with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) health standard for fine particle pollution, which was tightened in 2006 to better protect public health.
For additional information visit pscleanair.org.
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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.
