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About Air Quality Burn Bans
The smoke from burning wood and wood-based products contains fine particles (soot) and a toxic mix of other carcinogens. This pollution is harmful to your health, particularly for sensitive groups — infants, children, and people over 65, or those that are pregnant, have heart or lung diseases (such as asthma or COPD), respiratory infections, diabetes, stroke survivors, and those suffering from COVID-19. During stagnant weather conditions, concentrations of wood smoke can reach harmful levels.
Typically, weather conditions allow for good air quality in our region, but during colder months, weather inversions and calm winds are more common. Without strong winds, the air becomes stagnant and weather inversions trap the air closer to the ground. These conditions combined with an increase in wood burning make air quality burn bans necessary to decrease wood smoke emissions and to protect air quality in our neighborhoods and the health of those living there.
An air quality burn ban is a mandatory, yet temporary, order that restricts the use of wood stoves and fireplaces, as well as outdoor burning, when air quality is degraded, and human health may be impacted. Air quality burn bans typically occur during fall and winter months and usually last a few days, but they may last for up to a week or more. They also may sometimes occur during the summer months if there is wildfire smoke.
Air Quality Burn Ban Stages
There are two types (stages) of air quality burn bans that can be issued. Stage 1 burn bans are typically based on weather conditions and rising pollution levels. Stage 2 burn bans are called when fine particle pollution levels reach a trigger value set by state law.
During a Stage 1 air quality burn ban:
- No burning is allowed in wood-burning fireplaces, uncertified wood stoves, or uncertified fireplace inserts unless this is your only adequate source of heat and you have an approved exemption*
- All outdoor burning is prohibited, even in areas where outdoor burning is not permanently banned. This includes wood- and charcoal-fueled recreational fires
During a Stage 2 air quality burn ban:
- No burning is allowed in ANY wood-burning fireplaces, wood stoves or fireplace inserts (certified or uncertified), or pellet stoves, unless this is your only adequate source of heat and you have an approved exemption*
- All outdoor burning is prohibited, even in areas where outdoor burning is not permanently banned. This includes wood- and charcoal-fueled recreational fires
* Even those using a certified device or those for whom this is their only adequate source of heat and have an approved exemption cannot generate visible smoke.
Air Quality vs. Fire Safety Burn Bans
Air quality burn bans are issued and enforced by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency when air pollution may reach or reaches unhealthy levels. Air quality burn bans typically occur during colder fall and winter months. They also may sometimes occur during the summer months if there is wildfire smoke.
Fire safety burn bans are issued by the fire marshal when dry weather conditions heighten the risk of wildfires. Fire safety burn bans are generally called during the summer and can last for several months.
Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is NOT responsible for issuing or enforcing fire safety burn bans.
For more on fire safety bans, contact your county fire marshal.
- What is an air quality burn ban?
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An air quality burn ban is a mandatory, yet temporary, order that restricts the use of wood stoves and fireplaces, as well as outdoor burning, when air quality is degraded and human health may be adversely impacted. Air quality burn bans typically occur during fall and winter months and may last for up to a week or more. They also may sometimes occur during the summer months if there is wildfire smoke.
For more information, visit our About Burn Bans page.
- What’s the difference between a Stage 1 and Stage 2 air quality burn ban?
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During a Stage 1 air quality burn ban:
- No burning is allowed in wood-burning fireplaces, uncertified wood stoves, or uncertified fireplace inserts unless this is your only adequate source of heat and you have an approved exemption.
- Even those using a certified device or those for whom this is their only adequate source of heat cannot generate visible smoke.
- All outdoor burning is prohibited, even in areas where outdoor burning is not permanently banned. This includes wood- and charcoal-fueled recreational fires.
During a Stage 2 air quality burn ban:
- No burning is allowed in ANY wood-burning fireplaces, wood stoves or fireplace inserts (certified or uncertified) or pellet stoves, unless this is your only adequate source of heat and you have an approved exemption.
- Even those for whom this is their only adequate source of heat cannot generate visible smoke.
- All outdoor burning is prohibited, even in areas where outdoor burning is not permanently banned. This includes wood- and charcoal-fueled recreational fires.
- Who can issue an air quality burn ban?
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The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has regulatory authority to issue air quality burn bans in King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, in accordance with RCW 70.94.473.
- Why do you call air quality burn bans?
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The smoke from burning wood and wood-based products contains fine particles (soot) and a toxic mix of other carcinogens. This pollution is harmful to your health, particularly for young children, older adults and people with respiratory and heart disease. During stagnant weather conditions, concentrations of wood smoke can reach harmful levels, so we restrict wood smoke emissions to protect air quality in our neighborhoods and the health of those living there.
- Where do you call air quality burn bans?
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The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency calls air quality burn bans for King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. Air quality burn bans for areas outside Puget Sound Clean Air Agency’s jurisdiction are issued by other local air agencies, the Washington Department of Ecology, or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- When and how are air quality burn ban conditions determined?
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We follow State Burn Ban Requirements:
We will issue Stage 1 air quality burn bans when weather conditions are predicted to create stagnant air and a build-up of fine particle pollution (PM2.5) that:
- Exceeds a 24-hour average of 35 micrograms per cubic meter within 48 hours (King and Kitsap counties).
- Exceeds a 24-hour average of 30 micrograms per cubic meter within 72 hours (Pierce and Snohomish counties).
In some cases when PM2.5 levels are rising rapidly, we may call a Stage 2 air quality burn ban without first calling a Stage 1 air quality burn ban.
Forecast weather conditions play a major role in determining when – or whether – to issue an air quality burn ban. For example, in certain circumstances when pollution levels have risen to the Stage 2 trigger, we may not issue an air quality burn ban if we expect that weather conditions over the next 24 hours will clean out our area’s air pollution.
We also issue these air quality bans based on the air quality conditions in the individual counties and in some cases sub-county areas within our jurisdiction. As a result, one or more counties or areas may have a Stage 1 burn ban in place while another county has advanced to a Stage 2 burn ban. Or one county may have a burn ban in effect while others have no restrictions in place.
The Agency issues air quality forecasts year-round to inform the public of expected conditions and health impacts based on EPA’s Air Quality Index.
- It’s windy outside. Why is there an air quality burn ban?
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We typically issue air quality burn bans on a county-wide basis. Our counties, however, have very diverse landscapes. Sometimes, one part of a county may experience stagnant weather conditions and elevated pollution levels, while in another part of the county, it’s windy and the air is somewhat cleaner.
- The Air Quality Index (AQI) says air quality is “good or moderate.” Why is there an air quality burn ban?
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We issue air quality burn bans when we expect air pollution to worsen. Sometimes the AQI may read “good” or “moderate” at the time we issue a ban; that means we anticipate that air pollution will build up soon. Pollution tends to build slowly during the day and is typically worst at night and early morning hours.