Stage 1 burn ban called for Pierce County

Use of fireplaces and uncertified wood stoves is prohibited until air quality improves

JANUARY 12, 2013, SEATTLE, WA – Due to cold, stagnant weather conditions and rising air pollution, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is issuing a Stage 1 burn ban for Pierce County, effective at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, January 12, 2013. This ban is in effect until further notice. The purpose of a burn ban is to reduce the amount of air pollution that is creating unhealthy air, which is usually due to excessive wood smoke.

Agency forecasters expect the current high-pressure weather system to continue through Sunday night and with it the cold and still weather conditions we’ve been seeing. That –coupled with weather inversions in the evening– will likely result in air pollution becoming trapped near ground level.

Pierce County in particular could see levels of air pollution reach the “UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS” level, especially in areas where wood burning is common. Snohomish, King, and Kitsap Counties should have some light winds, and should have lower pollution levels, staying at the “MODERATE” air quality level. The Clean Air Agency will continue to closely monitor the air quality and weather situation.

During a Stage 1 burn ban:

No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves. 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. The only exception is if a wood stove is a home’s only adequate source of heat.
No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas.
Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

It is OK to use natural gas, propane, pellet and EPA-certified wood stoves or inserts during a Stage 1 burn ban.

The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors, especially when exercising. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to people with lung and heart problems, people with diabetes, children, and older adults (over age 65).

For more information:

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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 by adopting and enforcing air quality regulations, educating individuals and businesses about clean-air choices and sponsoring voluntary initiatives to improve air quality.