Here comes the sun ... and the Pierce County burn ban

It's great to see the sun again during this dark time of the year, but it carries a price.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has issued a Stage One Burn Ban for Pierce County, effective at 4:00 this afternoon. Outdoor fires are banned, and no burning is allowed in uncertified wood stoves and fireplaces.

The high pressure system that's bringing us sunshine through the weekend is also trapping more air pollution near the ground.

During a Stage 1 burn ban:

• No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves. Residents should rely instead on their home's other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled. The only exception is if a wood stove is a home's only adequate source of heat.
• No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas. It also includes burning yard waste and storm debris. 
• Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

You can learn more about burn bans at pscleanair.org.