DARRINGTON — The burn ban here has been lifted.
A burn ban for the rest of Snohomish County, along with King and Pierce counties, was lifted noon Tuesday. The Darrington ban lasted longer due to higher levels of pollution, much of it due to wood smoke. As wind picked up through the week, smoke began to dissipate.
On Monday, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency determined pollution levels in Darrington were unhealthy and issued a Stage 2 burn ban, which prohibits burning in all wood stoves and fireplaces as well as outdoor fires. The ban was downgraded to Stage 1 Tuesday, allowing for certified wood stoves or fireplace inserts. The agency officially lifted the ban at noon on Thursday.
Violating a burn ban can carry up to a $1,000 fine, but people with no other source of heat can seek permission from the clean air agency to burn during Stage 1 and 2 bans.
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