Forget bon fires, charcoal barbeques or anything that puts more smoke in the already hazy sky for the next couple of days. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is banning ALL outdoor burning until air quality improves in the Puget Sound region.
As wind switched to the northeast on Wednesday, August 2, 2017, wildfire smoke from British Columbia poured into the region, bringing an obvious haze to the area and impacting air quality.
In response, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency issued a Stage 1 air quality burn ban for King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties, effective at 4 PM on August 2nd.
This ban is in effect until further notice and is in addition to existing fire safety burn bans.
With winds from British Columbia moving wildfire smoke into Western Washington, air pollution levels have become UNHEALTHY for sensitive groups in many parts of Puget Sound. The pattern is expected to continue at least through Friday and possibly longer.
The purpose of the burn ban is to reduce any additional harm to sensitive populations from excess air pollution and is in addition to existing fire safety burn bans.
The Clean Air Agency said it will continue to closely monitor the situation for purposes of air quality burn bans.
No outdoor burning during a Stage 1 air quality burn ban include:
- No charcoal barbeques
- No fire pits, chimineas, fire bowls, or similar free-standing devices
- No campfires or bonfires
- No fireplaces, uncertified wood stoves, or uncertified inserts*
- No agricultural fires (as described in the agricultural burn permit)
- Native American ceremonial fire permits outside of tribal lands are not granted from the local fire district during air quality burn bans.
It is OK to use natural gas and propane stoves or inserts during a Stage 1 burn ban.
[* The only exception to using fireplaces and uncertified wood stoves or inserts, is if the homeowner has a previously approved ‘No Other Adequate Source of Heat’ exemption from the Clean Air Agency.]
