Nov. 14, 2022
Effective immediately, no indoor or outdoor wood burning is allowed in the Columbia Valley urban growth area (including the Peaceful Valley and Paradise Lakes developments) in Whatcom County because cold, calm air is preventing harmful wood smoke from clearing out, according to the Northwest Clean Air Agency.
Fine particles in wood smoke are harmful because they can be inhaled deeply into lungs and damage delicate tissues.
During this Stage 2 burn ban, all burning is prohibited unless a woodstove is your only adequate source of heat.
- No burning is allowed in any wood-burning fireplaces, woodstoves, or fireplace inserts (certified or uncertified), and pellet.
- No outdoor fires of any kind are allowed. This includes burning of yard waste, land clearing, agricultural burning, and forest burning, plus recreational fires in devices like backyard fire kettles, chimneys, and fire pits.
These burning limits will remain in effect until further notice. Check NWCAA’s website (https://nwcleanairwa.gov/), @NWCleanAir on Twitter, and NWCAA’s Facebook page for up-to-date information.
Burn ban violators could face fines and other enforcement actions. Remember that it is always illegal to produce excess chimney smoke and impact your neighbors. It is also illegal to burn trash.
The burn ban is based on weather forecasts and current air pollution from small particles. Right now, air quality is predicted to be worse than the national health-based standard for at least 24 hours.
Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to children, people with heart and lung problems, and adults age 65 and older.
More information
- Local air quality information: Northwest Clean Air Agency.
- Statewide air quality monitoring: Washington Department of Ecology.
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, woodstoves, and fireplaces. More information about the agency is available at https://nwcleanairwa.gov/.