Due to stagnant weather conditions and rising air pollution, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is issuing a Stage 1 burn ban for Snohomish County, effective at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25.

Use of fireplaces and wood stoves is prohibited until air quality improves. Natural gas and propane stoves are OK. This ban remains in effect until further notice.

The purpose of a burn ban is to reduce the amount of pollution that is creating unhealthy air, usually due to excessive wood smoke. With cold, calm weather setting up tonight through the weekend, we expect air pollution to reach levels that are unhealthy for sensitive groups in Snohomish County. A break isn’t expected from this pattern until early next week.

We are closely watching pollution levels in the greater Pierce County area and may extend the burn ban to include that area and tomorrow or Friday.

Visit www.pscleanair.org/burnban to view the current burn ban status.

During a Stage 1 burn ban:
– No burning is allowed in wood-burning fireplaces, uncertified wood stoves or fireplace inserts. Residents should rely instead on their home’s other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled.
– The only exception is if the homeowner has a previously approved ‘No Other Adequate Source of Heat’ designation from the Clean Air Agency
– No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas.

Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.