By Joye Redfield-Wilder, communications manager, Central Regional Office
Unpromising weather forecasts are prompting the Washington Department of Ecology to call Stage 1 burn bans for Kittitas, Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Asotin and Walla Walla counties beginning at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, December 24.
Dispersion is expected to worsen over Christmas and lead to poor air quality later in the week. The bans will continue at least until 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27.
All outdoor burning – including residential, agricultural and forest burning – is prohibited.
Under a Stage 1 ban the use of uncertified wood-burning devices – including fireplaces, wood stoves and inserts – is prohibited unless they are a home’s only adequate source of heat.
For burn ban updates, check online at www.waburnbans.net.
Certified wood-burning devices and pellet stoves are allowed. Ecology recommends burning hot fires using only clean, dry wood.
By limiting burning and following restrictions when burn bans are called, residents can help improve air quality sooner.
Ecology’s burn bans do not apply on tribal reservations, where the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has jurisdiction.
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