Because of wildfire and public safety concerns in our wooded counties, seasonal burn bans are now in effect throughout ORCAA’s jurisdiction

Prohibitions on residential outdoor burning are now in effect in Jefferson, Clallam and Thurston Counties. Land Clearing burning is now prohibited in all six ORCAA counties (Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Mason, Pacific and Thurston) due to a summer-long ban called state-wide by the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

These seasonal bans continue through the summer.

The restrictions on outdoor burning during the summer and early autumn has resulted in a significant drop in brush fires and property damage each of the past couple years, according to fire officials.

Because of wildfire and public safety concerns in our wooded counties, seasonal burn bans take effect this month.

Prohibitions on residential outdoor burning are now in effect in Jefferson, Clallam and Thurston Counties. All land clearing burning is prohibited in all six ORCAA counties (Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Mason, Pacific and Thurston) due in part to a state-wide ban called by DNR for July 1-September 30.

These seasonal bans continue through the summer.

Outdoor burning causes significant amounts of air pollution, but it is the fire danger associated with burning that has prompted bans on outdoor burning in many counties in Washington.

The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) supports the local fire agencies, as well as the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) anytime those agencies issue a fire-safety burn ban. ORCAA will not issue land clearing burning permits in counties in which fire-safety burn bans have been called.

Today, DNR announced there will be a statewide burn ban on all DNR-protected lands starting July 15, 2010 through September 30, 2010. This means all forestlands in Washington except for federal lands. Because ORCAA supports all DNR curtailments, this means all land clearing burning in ORCAA’s six county jurisdiction (Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Mason, Pacific and Thurston) will be prohibited beginning July 15 and lasting at least until September 30.

“The threat of wildfires from escaped outdoor burning is high during the summer months due to unusual fire danger,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark. “Wildfires are dangerous for people and property and result in large expenditures of public funding that can be avoided through prudent actions to prevent them.”

While the primary reason for the current bans are to reduce wildfire risks, ORCAA encourages everyone to use this as an opportunity to explore safe, reasonable alternatives to outdoor burning. Alternatives include:

• Use a mulching mower to reduce or eliminate grass clippings.
• Chip and/or compost your yard and garden debris.
• Haul your yard and garden debris to a community composting facility

Residents should also be aware that burning any form of garbage – including paper –is prohibited at all times by state law. Burn barrels are also illegal everywhere in Washington state.

Because of wildfire and public safety concerns in our wooded counties, seasonal burn bans take effect this month.

Prohibitions on outdoor burning in Jefferson and Clallam Counties begins today (July 1) while Thurston County bans burning beginning July 15.

These seasonal bans continue through the summer.

The restrictions on outdoor burning during the summer and early autumn has resulted in a significant drop in brush fires and property damage each of the past couple years, according to fire officials.

To stay up-to-date on the status of burn bans, please register for the ORCAA email news alerts HERE or simply visit this site regularly for news and information our region’s air quality issues.

Check current burn status here

As a reminder; No burning is allowed in Olympia, Lacey, & Tumwater city limits.  Only recreational campfires are allowed in Thurston County UGA’s (Urban Growth Area’s).  If your property is in the unincorporated areas of Thurston County, Residential burning is allowed with a permit.  Please visit your local fire district to receive the free permit and be sure to obey all the conditions listed.  Permit must be posted on site when burning.

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.

To ensure clean, healthful air for all, ORCAA encourages residents to be responsible and to burn only when absolutely necessary even when mandatory restrictions are lifted. Air stagnation is possible throughout the winter and early spring. Voluntary reductions on indoor and outdoor burning in the region can help prevent elevated air pollution levels and therefore reduce the need for stringent burn restrictions.

People who would like to do their part to ensure clean, healthful air might consider the following simple acts to help protect the air we breathe:

• When possible, do not use any woodstove or fireplace.

• If you do have a fire in a certified stove or fireplace, consider using manufactured logs if you must burn. They are made from recycled wood products and burn cleaner than cut wood.

• Always use your woodstove or fireplace properly to ensure the cleanest burning possible. Remember that excess smoke is always illegal. To learn more about clean burning techniques and to find a current list of certified woodstoves and fireplaces, visit www.orcaa.org and click on the Programs tab in the top menu and scroll down to Woodstoves.

• Limit your driving as much as possible, since vehicles are a big source of air pollution year round.

• Check air-quality forecasts and current conditions at www.orcaa.org. The current and forecasted air-quality conditions are available via the links on the right. To learn about the health effects of air pollution, check out the American Lung Association of Washington’s Web site at www.alaw.org.

Under a Stage 1 Ban, no burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves, and all outdoor burning is prohibited, even in areas where outdoor burning is not permanently banned. Additionally, no visible smoke is allowed from any wood stove or fireplace, certified or not, beyond a 20-minute start-up period.

A system of stable, high pressure over Western Washington, coupled with cold overnight temperatures has resulted in air pollution levels climbing enough to raise concerns about the air quality and its impacts on health. A change in weather will be needed to restore cleaner air quality, yet that’s not forecast to occur until early Sunday.

While pollution levels in Thurston County warrants the Stage One Ban, other counties within the jurisdiction of the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) haven’t reached that level. To avoid bans in their areas, the residents of Mason, Pacific, Grays Harbor, Clallam and Jefferson Counties are asked to voluntarily refrain from all outdoor burning, and to use safe alternatives to wood heat if possible.

Of particular concern are fine particles released by smoke from wood stoves and fireplaces. The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to children, people with heart and lung problems, and adults over age 65.

Olympic Region Clean Air Agency staff will continue to monitor the situation to determine when the burn ban can be lifted. In the meantime, here are some other things people can do to help protect the air we breathe:

• If you have a certified wood stove or fireplace insert, make sure you are using it properly so you don’t produce excess chimney smoke. Excess smoke is always illegal. To learn more about clean burning techniques or upgrading to a certified, pellet, natural gas or propane stove, visit http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/
• To determine if your stove is certified, visit http://www.orcaa.org/sections/woodstove-program/
• Limit your driving as much as possible, since vehicles are a big source of air pollution year round. Check air-quality forecasts and current conditions at www.orcaa.org. The current and forecasted air-quality conditions are available via the links on the right.

For more information about Burn Ban regulations, you may refer to Chapter 173-433 of the Washington Administrative Code.

For the latest news in ORCAA’s Six County Jurisdiction, please sign up for ORCAA’s email alerts to get latest news and updates: www.orcaa.org or call (360) 539-7610

Under a Stage 1 Ban, no burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves, and all outdoor burning is prohibited, even in areas where outdoor burning is not permanently banned. Additionally, no visible smoke is allowed from any wood stove or fireplace, certified or not, beyond a 20-minute start-up period.

A system of stable, high pressure over Western Washington, coupled with cold overnight temperatures has resulted in air pollution levels climbing enough to raise concerns about the air quality and its impacts on health. A change in weather will be needed to restore cleaner air quality, yet that’s not forecast to occur until early Sunday.

While pollution levels in Thurston County warrants the Stage One Ban, other counties within the jurisdiction of the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) haven’t reached that level. To avoid bans in their areas, the residents of Mason, Pacific, Grays Harbor, Clallam and Jefferson Counties are asked to voluntarily refrain from all outdoor burning, and to use safe alternatives to wood heat if possible.

Of particular concern are fine particles released by smoke from wood stoves and fireplaces. The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to children, people with heart and lung problems, and adults over age 65.

Olympic Region Clean Air Agency staff will continue to monitor the situation to determine when the burn ban can be lifted. In the meantime, here are some other things people can do to help protect the air we breathe:

• If you have a certified wood stove or fireplace insert, make sure you are using it properly so you don’t produce excess chimney smoke. Excess smoke is always illegal. To learn more about clean burning techniques or upgrading to a certified, pellet, natural gas or propane stove, visit http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/
• To determine if your stove is certified, visit http://www.orcaa.org/sections/woodstove-program/
• Limit your driving as much as possible, since vehicles are a big source of air pollution year round. Check air-quality forecasts and current conditions at www.orcaa.org. The current and forecasted air-quality conditions are available via the links on the right.

For more information about Burn Ban regulations, you may refer to Chapter 173-433 of the Washington Administrative Code.

For the latest news in ORCAA’s Six County Jurisdiction, please sign up for ORCAA’s email alerts to get latest news and updates: www.orcaa.org or call (360) 539-7610

Under a Stage 1 Ban, no burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves, and all outdoor burning is prohibited, even in areas where outdoor burning is not permanently banned. Additionally, no visible smoke is allowed from any wood stove or fireplace, certified or not, beyond a 20-minute start-up period.

A system of stable, high pressure over Western Washington, coupled with cold overnight temperatures has resulted in air pollution levels climbing enough to raise concerns about the air quality and its impacts on health. A change in weather will be needed to restore cleaner air quality, yet that’s not forecast to occur until early Sunday.

While pollution levels in Thurston County warrants the Stage One Ban, other counties within the jurisdiction of the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) haven’t reached that level. To avoid bans in their areas, the residents of Mason, Pacific, Grays Harbor, Clallam and Jefferson Counties are asked to voluntarily refrain from all outdoor burning, and to use safe alternatives to wood heat if possible.

Of particular concern are fine particles released by smoke from wood stoves and fireplaces. The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to children, people with heart and lung problems, and adults over age 65.

Olympic Region Clean Air Agency staff will continue to monitor the situation to determine when the burn ban can be lifted. In the meantime, here are some other things people can do to help protect the air we breathe:

• If you have a certified wood stove or fireplace insert, make sure you are using it properly so you don’t produce excess chimney smoke. Excess smoke is always illegal. To learn more about clean burning techniques or upgrading to a certified, pellet, natural gas or propane stove, visit http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/
• To determine if your stove is certified, visit http://www.orcaa.org/sections/woodstove-program/
• Limit your driving as much as possible, since vehicles are a big source of air pollution year round. Check air-quality forecasts and current conditions at www.orcaa.org. The current and forecasted air-quality conditions are available via the links on the right.

For more information about Burn Ban regulations, you may refer to Chapter 173-433 of the Washington Administrative Code.

For the latest news in ORCAA’s Six County Jurisdiction, please sign up for ORCAA’s email alerts to get latest news and updates: www.orcaa.org or call (360) 539-7610