Oct. 21, 2022
The Northwest Clean Air Agency is ending a Stage 2 air quality burn ban for Island, Skagit, and Whatcom counties because air quality has improved as winds clear out wildfire smoke.
The cancellation includes an earlier air quality burn ban called specifically for the Columbia Valley urban growth area in Whatcom County.
NWCAA’s air quality burn ban was separate from the three counties’ fire safety burn bans on outdoor burning, which remain in effect because of increased fire danger.
- See the latest on fire safety burn bans: https://bit.ly/3Jd6abr
The air quality burn ban is being lifted because levels of fine particles from wildfire smoke are dropping throughout the region due to changing weather conditions, including rain and wind.
Please remember that the counties’ fire safety burn bans are still in place until local fire officials determine that fire danger has passed.
Check NWCAA’s website (https://nwcleanairwa.gov/) for air quality burn ban information and follow NWCAA on Twitter (@NWCleanAir), Facebook, and Instagram (nwcleanair).
More information
- Washington Smoke Information blog: wasmoke.blogspot.com
- Statewide air quality monitoring map: Washington Department of Ecology.
- Health questions? Contact your local health department:
- Skagit County Health: 360-416-1500
- Island County Health: 360-679-7350
- Whatcom County Health: 360-778-6000
The Northwest Clean Air Agency is responsible for enforcing federal, state, and local air quality regulations in Island, Skagit, and Whatcom counties. In addition to permitting and regulating industrial sources of air pollution, the agency provides services and information related to asbestos, indoor air quality, outdoor burning, wood stoves, and fireplaces. More information about the agency is available at https://nwcleanairwa.gov/.