air pollutionTag Archives

DNR program helps keep air clean while preventing wildfires

Burn barrels for Compost Bins

You have an opportunity to curb fire risks, improve air quality, and make your neighbors’ lives easier.  At no cost to you!

A Wildfire Awareness and Prevention Program sponsored by the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offer residents of western Clallam Countyan opportunity to dump their burn barrels and get a compost bin, for free! The bins, provided by DNR, can help turn yard waste into free garden fertilizer while eliminating one of the primary sources of wildfires: burn barrels.

Burn barrels also produce significantly more air pollution than open burn piles.  For those reasons, the state legislature banned the use of burn barrels in all areas of Washington several years ago; but the barrels continue to be used by many, despite the risks to public health and property.

Clallam County Burn Barrel Exchange:

What:      Exchange your burn barrel for a compost bin

When:     May 9, 10, and 11 — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where:   West Waste Landfill, Highway 110, Forks, WA

Contact: Bryan Suslick at (360) 374-2800 or email at bryan.suslick@dnr.wa.gov

By replacing that illegal burn barrel with a compost bin for your yard waste, residents will:

  • Produce free, organic fertilizer for their yard and garden
  • Reduce harmful air pollution. Smoke from outdoor burning poses serious health risks, much like cigarette smoke. Particulate pollution from smoke may lead to increased incidents of asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, and heart and lung disease.
  • Reduce the risk of wildfire. Backyard fires that ‘escape’ are the leading source of wildfires caused by humans, and many of those escapement fires start in burn barrels.

There are a limited number of compost bins available for this program, so residents are urged to act NOW.

DNR is encouraging homeowners, land managers, first responders, developers, business owners, and civic leaders to focus on “Knowing Your Role” when it comes to preparing communities for wildfire. Visit the Fire Adapted Communities website (http://fireadapted.org/) to learn more about defensible space, fire-resilient building construction, community wildfire prevention planning, the Firewise Program, (www.firewise.org) and Ready, Set, Go! (http://www.wildlandfirersg.org/).

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admin
May 6, 2013
Burn Status, Health, News and Information
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Air Quality at risk from stagnant weather: Residents Asked to Reduce Burning

This week, our Western Washington weather turned cold, with mostly clear skies and little wind to clear the air. Cold nights and icy mornings tend to prompt more use of woodstoves and fireplaces. Unfortunately, in these conditions any smoke we put into the air around us, stays in the air around us. The result could be rising levels of air pollution.

In the interest of public health and safety, the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) asks that all residents CURTAIL all outdoor burning in Clallam and Mason Counties, and to VOLUNTARILY refrain from using wood stoves and fireplaces in all counties (Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Mason and Pacific) unless absolutely necessary.

Additionally, Thurston County remains under a STAGE 2 BURN BAN, in which all burning (indoor and outdoor) is prohibited. No wood stoves, fireplaces or pellet stoves may be used unless they are the occupants’ sole source of heat.

Burning wood creates smoke composed of fine and very fine particulate matter (PM2.5). These tiny particles are too small to be filtered by the nose and the body’s other natural defense mechanisms, so they may end up being inhaled deep into the lungs. That means that exposure to wood smoke may, at the very least, cause breathing problems and can increase – sometimes substantially increase – the severity of existing lung disease, such as asthma. Smoke also has been shown to aggravate heart and vascular disease.

In addition to minimizing the use of woodstoves and fireplaces in areas outside the burn bans, ORCAA asks homeowners to use alternative means of disposal to clean up their yards. Chipping and composting are the best option, though other alternatives to burning are also available. You can find more details on the options at www.orcaa.org or by calling your local waste disposal company. Also please keep in mind that burning trash is ILLEGAL at all times throughout Washington.

 

To learn about the health effects of air pollution, check out the American Lung Association of Washington’s Web site at www.alaw.org. To find the latest on the status of burn restrictions within ORCAA’s six-county region, visit www.orcaa.org.

admin
January 14, 2013
Burn Status, Exec. Director's Desk, Health
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Stage 1 Burn Ban CONTINUES in Thurston County

A Stage One Burn Ban CONTINUES to be in effect in Thurston County today and will reamin so until further notice.

Under a Stage 1 Ban, no burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves, and all outdoor burning is prohibited, even in areas where outdoor burning is not permanently banned. Additionally, no visible smoke is allowed from any wood stove or fireplace, certified or not, beyond a 20-minute start-up period.

A system of stable, high pressure over Western Washington, coupled with cold overnight temperatures has resulted in air pollution levels climbing enough to raise concerns about the air quality and its impacts on health. A change in weather will be needed to restore cleaner air quality, yet that’s not forecast to occur until well into the week.

While pollution levels in Thurston County warrants the Stage One Ban, other counties within the jurisdiction of the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) haven’t reached that level. To avoid bans in their areas, the residents of Mason, Pacific, Grays Harbor, Clallam and Jefferson Counties are asked to voluntarily refrain from all outdoor burning, and to use safe alternatives to wood heat if possible.

Of particular concern are fine particles released by smoke from wood stoves and fireplaces. The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors. 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 over age 65.

Olympic Region Clean Air Agency staff will continue to monitor the situation to determine when the burn ban can be lifted. In the meantime, here are some other things people can do to help protect the air we breathe:

  • If you have a certified wood stove or fireplace insert, make sure you are using it properly so you don’t produce excess chimney smoke. Excess smoke is always illegal. To learn more about clean burning techniques or upgrading to a certified, pellet, natural gas or propane stove, visit http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/
  • To determine if your stove is certified, visit www.orcaa.org.
  • Limit your driving as much as possible, since vehicles are a big source of air pollution year round. Consider utilizing Intercity Transit’s bus service in Thurston County as an alternative — and cleaner — means of transportation. www.intercitytransit.com

For more information about Burn Ban regulations, you may refer to Chapter 173-433 of the Washington Administrative Code.

admin
January 2, 2013
Burn Status, Health, News and Information
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Return to winter means air quality can be at risk

Residents who heat with wood asked to burn cleanly and efficiently

As the region settles into colder conditions and periods of overnight and morning fog, it is vital that we think about our impacts on the air we share.

Cold nights and quiet, foggy mornings like those we expect later this week tend to prompt more use of woodstoves and fireplaces. Unfortunately, in these conditions any smoke we put into the air around us, stays in the air around us. But with proper care and the use of clean-burning practices, we can keep our shared air clean and safe.

Residents who heat with wood stoves or fireplaces must burn only clean, dry firewood in their home heating appliances. Their wood should be properly cured – less than 20-percent moisture – and free of dirt and debris. The woodstoves must also be properly maintained and operated so the fire draws enough oxygen to ensure complete combustion. That ensures you’ll get the maximum value from your fuel with the absolute minimum smoke. Visit www.burndryfirewood.com for additional tips on clean burning practices.

In addition to minimizing the use of woodstoves and fireplaces, ORCAA asks homeowners to use alternative means of disposal when cleaning up their yard waste. Chipping and composting are the best option, though other alternatives to burning are also available. You can find more details on the options at www.orcaa.org or by calling your local waste disposal company.

Burning wood creates smoke composed of fine and very fine particulate matter (PM2.5). These tiny particles are too small to be filtered by the nose and the body’s other natural defense mechanisms, so they may end up being inhaled deep into the lungs. That means that exposure to wood smoke may, at the very least, cause breathing problems and can increase – sometimes substantially increase – the severity of existing lung disease, such as asthma. Smoke also has been shown to aggravate heart and vascular disease.

To learn about the health effects of air pollution, check out the American Lung Association of Washington’s Web site at www.alaw.org. To find the latest on the status of burn restrictions within ORCAA’s six-county region, visit www.orcaa.org.

admin
November 9, 2012
Burn Status, Exec. Director's Desk, Health, News and Information
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Six Ways to Beat Winter

With winter quickly approaching, now is the time to focus on ways to keep energy costs low while protecting the health and well-being of your family. Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offer these tips to help you do just that:

  1. Maintain your home heating system. Maintaining the efficiency of your home’s heating system can have a big effect on your utility bills. Dirt and neglect can impact the efficiency of furnaces, heat pumps and even the blower systems on wood and pellet stoves. Schedule an equipment checkup with a licensed HVAC contractor to make sure your system is operating at peak performance. You should also check your system’s air filter monthly and change it when it’s dirty. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm thus wasting energy. http://www.energystar.gov/homeimprovement
  2. Set your thermostat a few degrees lower, especially when no one is active at home. Programming thermostats to turn the temperature down 8 degrees for 7 hours each night and an additional 7 hours each weekday during the hours when everyone is at work or school could result in a seasonal heating savings of approximately 12 percent. For the average home, this could result in savings of about $180. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_save_energy_at_home
  3. Burn only clean, well-cured firewood in your wood-burning appliance. When every dollar counts, it is important to get the most heat you can from your firewood. The solution is to make sure it is dry before you burn it. That can take 12 months or more. If you burn dry wood in your wood stove or fireplace regularly, you’ll experience great savings. And, it will take less work to build a fire with dry firewood. Visit http://burndryfirewood.com/
  4. Never burn garbage, cardboard, ocean driftwood or wet wood.  It is illegal to burn anything except untreated wood and manufactured firelogs. It is important that you do not burn household garbage, plastics, chemically treated paper or garbage. http://www.orcaa.org/burning/wood-stove-program
  5. Upgrade your wood-fired home heating system. If you replace an old wood stove with a more efficient one, efficiency can increase by 50 percent, 1/3 less wood can be used for the same heat and 70 percent less particle pollution indoors and out are produced. http://www.orcaa.org/burning/wood-stove-program
  6. Download EPA’s free Apps to help protect your health. The AIRNow app allows users to enter a zip code and get current particle pollution and ozone levels and forecasts for more than 400 cities across the country. The Ultraviolet (UV) Index provides an hourly forecast of the UV radiation levels from the sun. Both are available for Apple and Android phones. Learn more about these apps and the others: http://m.epa.gov/apps/index.html

 

admin
October 18, 2012
Exec. Director's Desk, Health, News and Information
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