Air Quality suffers from stagnant weather: Residents Asked to Reduce Burning
Air quality seems to be the first casualty from this week’s fog and stagnant air conditions.
Still, stagnant air held down by a high pressure system means any smoke we put into the air around us, stays in the air around us. The result is rapidly rising levels of air pollution.
Our region experienced unusually high levels of air pollution in recent days as a result of outdoor burning and home-heating with woodstoves and fireplaces. In the interest of public health and safety, all residents are asked to VOLUNTARILY refrain from burning unless absolutely necessary.
ORCAA asks that residents who have alternative forms of home heating refrain from use of their woodstoves and fireplaces at least until air quality improves throughout the region. We also ask that homeowners use alternative means of disposal to clean up their yards. Chipping and composting are the best option, though other alternatives to burning are also available. You can find more details on the options at www.orcaa.org or by calling your local waste disposal company.
Residents who must rely on fireplaces or woodstoves for home heating should burn as cleanly and as efficiently as possible. By using dry wood and burning small, hot fires, residents get more heat with less smoke.
To learn about the health effects of air pollution, check out the American Lung Association of Washington’s Web site at www.alaw.org.
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