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Burn ban to be lifted Friday afternoon

The Columbian
Published: January 6, 2011, 12:00am

Here is a press release from the Southwest Clean Air Agency:

Clark County Stage 2 Burn Ban Lifting Friday Afternoon

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Due to favorable weather patterns and improving air quality conditions, the Southwest Clean Air Agency (SWCAA) is removing the Stage 2 Burn Ban for Clark County effective 2:00 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 7, 2011. The restrictions on using wood stoves and fireplaces in Clark County will then be lifted. Tomorrow afternoon residents may once again use their wood stoves and fireplaces, but are asked to burn as cleanly as possible. For those who heat with wood, please remember that it is always illegal to produce excess chimney smoke and to smoke out your neighbor. You know you are burning properly when you do not see any smoke coming from your chimney. For more information about cleaner wood burning techniques, please visit www.swcleanair.org/burnclean.html.

“This past week has demonstrated how wood smoke from individual households can affect an entire community,” said Jackie Brown, air quality specialist with the Southwest Clean Air Agency, “so we ask that if people must burn, that they use only dry, seasoned firewood and follow clean burning practices.”

As of Friday at 2:00 p.m., in areas of Clark County where burning has not been permanently banned, outdoor burning will again be allowed with the proper permits. However, burning at any time adds to the air pollution levels in your local community, and residents are encouraged to seek alternatives to burning throughout the year. When outdoor burning does take place, note that only natural vegetation may be burned. State law prohibits the burning of garbage, home-repair debris, and other prohibited materials at any time. Burn barrels of any kind are also prohibited by state law.

The Stage 1 Burn Bans in Cowlitz and Lewis Counties lifted on Wednesday, Jan. 5 due to changing weather patterns which cleared up much of the air pollution in the two counties. Contrary to what normally occurs, the light rain in Clark County did not improve the air quality enough to lift the Stage 2 Burn Ban at the same time.

Founded in 1968, the mission of the Southwest Clean Air Agency is to preserve and enhance the air quality in southwest Washington. Serving the counties of Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Skamania and Wahkiakum, SWCAA is responsible for protecting the public’s health through the enforcement of federal, state and local air quality standards and regulations.

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