Stage 1 burn ban issued for King County

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has issued a Stage 1 burn ban for King County, this includes the cities of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park. The ban is in effect until further notice.

During any burn ban no outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits; even in areas where otherwise permitted by law.

During a burn ban:

• No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves or inserts, unless this is your only adequate source of heat. 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.

• No visible smoke is allowed from any wood stove or fireplace, certified or not, beyond a 20-minute start-up period – and even if it is the only adequate source of heat.

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

It is OK to use natural gas, propane, pellet and EPA certified wood stoves or inserts during a Stage 1 burn ban.

More info can be found at Puget Sound Clean Air.