A county-wide burn ban will be lifted at 4 p.m. Tuesday, the Southwest Clean Air Agency has announced. The stage one ban — prohibiting outdoor burning and the use of uncertified wood stoves and inserts — had been in place for more than a week due to stubbornly stagnant air patterns.
Residents this afternoon will be allowed to use all wood stoves and fireplaces, but the agency urged people to burn as cleanly as possible. Burning adds to air pollution levels, which can create health risks in stagnant weather patterns like the region has seen for much of this month.
Rain and showers are likely through the rest of Tuesday and Tuesday night, but wind will remain calm, according to the national weather service. Cold, foggy conditions are expected to return Wednesday and Thursday.
