Air Quality Burning Advisories
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Outdoor Burning
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Landclearing Burning
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Woodstoves & Fireplaces
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*Except in areas where outdoor burning is permanently banned. CLICK HERE for more info. A permit is generally required, see residential burning and landclearing pages for permit information and restrictions.
Advisory Notes
June 28, 2008: The DNR has declared a burn ban effective immediately in Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, and Thurston Counties. All outdoor burning and land clearing burning is prohibited.
June 27, 2008: The Clallam County Fire Marshall has declared a county-wide burn ban effective July 1. The burn ban will remain in place until Oct. 1, unless conditions at that time warrant an extension.
January 24, 2008: A Stage 1 Burn Ban has been called, effective immediately, for all of Thurston County. Under a Stage 1 Ban, residents are not allowed to use uncertified woodstoves and fireplaces, and all outdoor burning and land clearing burning is prohibited. Additionally, residents with certified woodstoves are asked to voluntarily refrain from using those devices until air quality improves – forecasts suggest that will occur over the weekend.
November 27, 2007: Last week's call for voluntary reductions in outdoor burning and the use of woodstoves proved that residents do care about air quality.
Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) issued the voluntary burn restriction notice the day before Thanksgiving to try to curb rising levels of fine particular matter pollution (PM2.5). The region's citizens responded and the pollution levels never rose to the level that a full burn ban would need to be called. The return of rain this week, meanwile, ensures that the air will stay clean for the near future, so all burn restrictions are lifted, effective immediately.
November 21, 2007: — 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.
February 7, 2007 – With the recent change in weather, air quality has improved substantially. As a result, all temporary restrictions on burning have been lifted in all six counties within ORCAA's jurisdiction. The permanent burn bans within Urban Growth Areas (UGAs) and cities remain in effect, of course, per state law.
February 1, 2007 – A Stage 1 Burn ban remains in effect in Thurston and Mason counties despite a slight change in weather conditions. 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.
The National Weather Service has called off an Air Stagnation Alert for most of Western Washington, but the South Sound region continues to feel the effects of the high-pressure system that caused pollution levels to rise.
Until local air monitors show a return to cleaner, healthful air quality, the ban will remain in effect. Conditions improved slightly Thursday. Unfortunately, air stagnation patterns are forecast to settle in over Western Washington again late Friday. That will result in higher concentrations of air pollution once more.
July 10, 2006: 11:30 a.m.-- The Washington Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with the affected counties as well as ORCAA and the Southwest Clean Air Agency, has called a burn ban for Pacific and Grays Harbor Counties in ORCAA's jurisdiction, and Lewis, Skamania, Clark and Cowlitz Counties in SWCAA's jurisdiction. The Clean Air Agencies support and enforce the DNR-called fire safety bans. These bans affect all land clearing, silvacultural and residential outdoor burning.
July 10, 2006: 10 a.m.-- All outdoor burning has been prohibited in Clallam and Jefferson counties for fire safety considerations. The annual fire-safety ban on all outdoor burning also goes into effect in Thurston County on July 15. This ban remains in effect until 0ct. 15 each year.
December 19, 2005 8:30 AM -- The recent change in weather patterns has prompted ORCAA to remove all burn restrictions, effective immediately, in all counties. However, because we typically see higher levels of air pollution throughout the winter months, we continue to ask the residents to try to reduce their burning as much as possible throughout the season. If woodstoves and fireplaces are used, please ensure that you are burning as efficiently and cleanly as possible. You can find details on clean burning HERE.