Stage 1 burn ban goes into effect today at noon

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 p.m. January 18, 2009. The burn ban will remain in effect until further notice.

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.

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. The Clean Air Agency encourages people to take advantage of free flood-debris disposal coordinated by their county.

• Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

(information above is from the Puget Sound Clean Air website)

Link to Puget Sound Clean Air