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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Burn ban now in effect as air quality deteriorates

August 2, 2017 4:00 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Health | Safety | West Seattle news

Thanks to Charlie Anthe for that photo that’s more about what you don’t see than what you do – Charlie explains that view from the West Seattle Golf Course usually includes the downtown skyline, which by early afternoon was completely obscured. Up here over Lincoln Park, we’re noticing that even nearby Vashon is all but impossible to see. It’s still the wildfire smoke, mostly from British Columbia, which is having one of its worst fire seasons ever. And it’s led to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency calling a Stage 1 outdoor burn ban that takes effect right now, because of air quality (or, the lack of it) – here’s what that means:

STAGE 1 BURN BAN

No burning in uncertified wood stoves or inserts, or fireplaces. No outdoor burning. EPA certified devices and pellet stoves are allowed.

No

Fireplaces
Uncertified Wood Stoves
Uncertified Wood Inserts
Outdoor Burning

And the National Weather Service alert (Excessive Heat Warning) remains in effect through 9 pm Friday, with tomorrow expected to be hotter than today.

P.S. The NWS tweeted this view from above:

ADDED WEDNESDAY NIGHT: James Bratsanos sent this photo of the sunset, even redder than Tuesday night:

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16 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Burn ban now in effect as air quality deteriorates"

  • newnative August 2, 2017 (4:19 pm)

    I hope this is enforced on Alki.

  • miws August 2, 2017 (4:52 pm)

    I had to go out on an errand a little past 1:30 this afternoon. Since I’m sort of subterranean in my apartment, basically only able to see our other building across the way,  I couldn’t tell until heading out how low the haze was hanging. Don’t recall ever seeing a haze hang as low as fog occasionally does. 

    Mike

  • Bill August 2, 2017 (5:51 pm)

    The burn ban includes charcoal barbeques/grills

    • WSB August 2, 2017 (6:22 pm)

      That’s covered in “outdoor burning.”

  • dsa August 2, 2017 (7:39 pm)

    It’s worse than I expected.  I could smell  smoke when we opened up the house for “fresh” air that was not fresh this morning.

  • shannon cross August 2, 2017 (11:08 pm)

    Driving over I-90 today there was no visibility on the water, it was erie to see. 

  • Yma August 2, 2017 (11:46 pm)

    Please explicitly clarify – one of the news stories that has been circulated on radio the past few days, to beat the heat, is to grill  outside.

    this smoke, settling here, makes the grilling advice not only unwise, but adberse to the ban.

    • Yma August 2, 2017 (11:51 pm)

      Also  we could barely make out Blake Island around 7:30 pm. Good vantage point, up the hill from Morgan Junction.

    • HA August 3, 2017 (7:59 am)

      I think gas grills are OK.  It’s charcoal that is not.

      • Chemist August 3, 2017 (8:40 am)

        That has been my take away from the regs on burn bans.  They’re primarily targeting solid fuel sources (wood, charcoal, etc) and seem to exempt gas or liquid-based fuels (propane and natural gas).

  • Denise August 3, 2017 (9:32 am)

    While camping one year, during a ban, ranger came by to stop us from grilling. But it was okay because we were using propane.

  • jack August 3, 2017 (8:41 pm)

    So let me get this straight. No BBQs or outdoor cooking, et al but the Navy Blue Angels can fly all around the city with their smoke trails activated and it’s ok?!?!?!

    In previous Blue Angel practices & performances the skies over Seattle & vicinity are hazy for at least a day after they are done terrorizing our part of the world.

  • TJ August 3, 2017 (9:43 pm)

    Jack…I believe it’s just no charcoal grilling. Propane grills are fine. And the Blue Angels engine exhaust is really a drop in the bucket compared to the wildwire smoke. But, I get the feeling you don’t like them anyway by saying they “terrorize our part of the world”. They are beloved here in Seattle. I also guess you hate fireworks as well

    • Michael August 5, 2017 (3:07 pm)

      Speaking of drops in the bucket, what do you think my grill is?

  • Smoky August 3, 2017 (11:11 pm)

    KOMO just had a live shot of  a roaring fire on Alki.  Apparently the heat and the inability to breathe doesn’t affect these people.  Or maybe the burn ban doesn’t apply to them.  Cuz there were notices… 

  • anonyme August 4, 2017 (1:24 pm)

    The burn ban should be permanent.  There’s no justification for open fires in a dense urban environment.

    And what kind of moron thinks “hmm, it’s ninety degrees and smoky – let’s build a fire!”?

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