Burn Ban Currently in Effect

Even though it's very cold and no rain, a Stage 2 burn ban has been expanded from Snohomish County to King, Kitsap, and Pierce counties according to the Snohomish CountyPuget Sound Clean Air Agency News Relese yesterday until further notice. This is the first burn ban of the winter heating season.

The Puget Sound website says the burn ban is "due to stable weather conditions and elevated air pollution levels. Stable weather conditions, combined with heavy use of wood-burning devices in our region, have created pollution levels that are unhealthy for sensitive group populations (the very young, elderly and those individuals with heart and lung ailments).

These weather conditions are expected to remain in place for several days, prompting the expansion of this Stage 2 burn ban to quickly reduce wood smoke emissions impacting communities throughout the central Puget Sound region. We are closely monitoring air quality conditions and forecasted meteorology. Weather conditions allowing the removal of the Stage 2 ban are not expected before Saturday."

Here are the do and don'ts during the burn ban:

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.

Even if your fireplace, pellet stove, or wood stove is your only adequate source of heat, no visible smoke is allowed.

No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas.

It is OK to use natural gas and propane stoves or inserts during a Stage 2 burn ban.

No burning is allowed in ANY wood-burning fireplaces, wood stoves or fireplace inserts or pellet stoves, unless this is your only adequate source of heat.

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

You can check conditions and forecasts here.

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.

A list of frequently asked questions and answers about burn bans is available on the Clean Air

Agency’s web site.