NEWS RELEASE
November 26 , 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Dan A. Nelson, ORCAA Public Information Officer, Ext. 111
Degrading Air Quality Prompts Voluntary Burn Restrictions
A regional weather pattern forecast for the next several days indicates that air quality will worsen throughout the Pacific Northwest. As a result of this on-going air stagnation, Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) requests residents to voluntarily refrain from outdoor burning and unnecessary use of wood stoves and fireplaces until further notice.
A system of stable, high pressure over Western Washington, coupled with overnight temperatures below freezing, caused air pollution levels to begin climbing early this week. A change in weather will be needed to restore cleaner air quality, but the current weather pattern is expected to remain unchanged possibly through the Thanksgiving weekend.
Though air pollution hasn't yet reached the levels that would make burning illegal, ORCAA seeks voluntary reductions in the hopes of avoiding mandatory bans.
"The residents of our six-county jurisdiction have been very responsive to these types of requests for reductions in burning," said ORCAA spokesman Dan Nelson. "By getting out in front of the problems before they get too bad, we can avoid the need for mandatory bans. By working together, we can all help ensure cleaner air for ourselves and our communities."
ORCAA monitors the situation continuously and, if air quality continues to degrade, the agency will call for mandatory burn restrictions. To avoid that, here are some other things people can do to help protect the air we breathe:
- When possible, do not use any woodstove or fireplace.
- 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.
- Delay burning yard waste until weather conditions allow better air quality. Or compost that yard-waste instead of burning. Composting does not affect air quality and provides you with a rich source of organic fertilizer for your yard and garden next spring.
- 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 Olympic Region Clean Air Agency protects and enhances air quality for citizens in Thurston, Mason, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, and Pacific counties by enforcing federal, state and local air quality regulations. If you have questions specific to the topic above, or just general questions about local air quality, contact ORCAA at (360) 586-1044 or 1-800-422-5623, or visit ORCAA's website, www.orcaa.org.