Air stagnation persists so Burn ban is expanded

The National Weather Service says strong high pressure is expected to intensify over the Pacific Northwest into next week.  An Air Stagnation Advisory is posted in Chelan Douglas and The Washington Department of Ecology issued a press release that said stagnant weather conditions are expected to continue in Central and Eastern Washington. Ecology is expanding and extending the Stage 1 burn ban.

Starting today, the burn ban will be expanded to include Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens counties, and the burn ban will continue in Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, and Okanogan counties.   In an effort to prevent poor air quality, the burn ban will remain in effect until further notice.

Under a Stage 1 ban, all outdoor burning is prohibited including residential, agricultural and forest burning. Use of uncertified wood stoves, fireplaces, inserts, and other uncertified wood-burning devices is prohibited unless they are a home’s only adequate source of heat.  Certified wood stoves, pellet stoves and other certified wood-burning devices are allowed.

Call 866-211-6284 if you think someone is illegally burning or you are impacted by smoke.

Up-to-date burn ban information is available at www.waburnbans.net.

Ecology’s burn bans do not apply on tribal reservations, where the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has jurisdiction. Call 800-424-4372 for tribal burn ban information or visit EPA’s Washington Burn Banpage on their website.