Puget Sound Clean Air Agency calls for Stage 1 burn ban in Greater Pierce County
A Stage 1 burn ban will take effect at 3 p.m. Sunday for greater Pierce County because of stagnant air, including high levels of wood smoke, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency announced.
Stagnant conditions are expected to persist through the middle of the week. The burn ban is in effect until further notice.
During a Stage 1 burn ban:
▪ No burning is allowed in wood-burning fireplaces, uncertified wood stoves or fireplace inserts, unless the homeowner has a previously approved “No Other Adequate Source of Heat” exemption from the air agency.
▪ No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimneys.
▪ Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.
▪ It is OK to use natural gas and propane stoves or inserts during a Stage 1 burn ban.
The state Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors, especially when exercising, according to a news release.
Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse, according to the release. Smoke is full of small particles, which can be especially dangerous for sensitive groups, such as infants, children, and people over 65, or those who are pregnant, have heart or lung diseases, respiratory infections, diabetes, stroke survivors, or are suffering from COVID-19.
Greater Pierce County doesn’t include the following areas: Gig Harbor, Key Peninsula, Anderson Island and the south Pierce County communities of Roy, Eatonville and Ashford.
This story was originally published November 13, 2022 at 2:32 PM.
