Burn ban lifted for almost all of Snohomish County

Published 3:20 pm Wednesday, November 16, 2022

EVERETT — The burn ban for almost all of Snohomish County was lifted Wednesday afternoon, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency announced.

The ban went into effect on Sunday. It applied to the entire county except Darrington, which falls under its own separate burn ban area as defined by the Clean Air Agency. Much of Pierce County was also under a ban lifted Wednesday.

The burn ban stemmed from “high levels” of wood smoke in parts of Snohomish County on Saturday night. A pattern of “stagnant” winter weather with little air movement to dilute the smoke’s polluting effects was expected to last through at least the middle of the week. The agency anticipated continued wood burning at the same rates could lead to air quality levels unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Under a Stage 1 ban, burning wood in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves and fireplace inserts is prohibited, as are outdoor fires. Stoves and inserts certified by the Environmental Protection Agency are acceptable for use during the ban, according to the Clean Air Agency’s website. Propane and natural gas stoves are also allowed.

Windy conditions Wednesday night and early Thursday are expected to improve air quality, according to the Clean Air Agency.

“The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency would like to thank everyone who switched to alternative sources of heat instead of burning wood during these bans,” a press release reads. “Children, the elderly, and people with chronic respiratory health issues especially benefit from your efforts.”

More stagnant weather was forecast to return Friday, so the agency noted it plans to reassess the burn ban over the weekend.

On Monday, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a ban on outdoor burning for the Tulalip Reservation, citing the same pattern of stagnant weather. Ceremonial and traditional fires are exempt from the ban. It remained in place Wednesday.