HEALTH ALERT: Smoky air now ‘unhealthy’ everywhere; plus, burn ban ordered

Our photo taken a short time ago from Alki Avenue is about what you CAN’T see: Normally on a sunny summer day, looking across Puget Sound from that spot, you’d see Bainbridge Island, with the Olympic Mountains as a backdrop. Right now – that’s all entirely obscured. While visibility improved a little early this morning, this afternoon it’s worsened in a big way, and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has joined regional health departments in renewing their health alert:

Air pollution levels are rising across Puget Sound region again and levels are expected to be UNHEALTHY for everyone today. Smoke is expected to impact air quality over the next few days. Air pollution levels will rise and fall, so we encourage you check the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency air quality map to see the latest air quality nearest you.

Right now, the level is indeed UNHEALTHY in all directions. The Washington Smoke Information website says we can expect some clearing Thursday. Meantime, a Stage I burn ban has been ordered, to take effect at 5 pm. That means:

No outdoor burning during a Stage 1 air quality burn ban including:

• No charcoal barbecues or similar solid fuel devices
• No campfires or bonfires
• No fire pits, chimineas, fire bowls, or similar free-standing devices
• No fireplaces, uncertified wood stoves, or uncertified inserts*
• No agricultural fires (as described in the agricultural burn permit)
• Local fire districts do not grant Native American ceremonial fire permits outside of tribal lands during air quality burn bans.

It is OK to use natural gas and propane grills, stoves, or inserts during a Stage 1 burn ban.

* The only exception to using fireplaces and uncertified wood stoves or inserts, is if the homeowner has a previously approved ‘No Other Adequate Source of Heat’ exemption from the Clean Air Agency

8 Replies to "HEALTH ALERT: Smoky air now 'unhealthy' everywhere; plus, burn ban ordered"

  • flimflam August 20, 2018 (8:02 pm)

    are you kidding? a burn ban just now ordered? seriously? its not like this air quality situation is new… that is astounding….

  • kim August 20, 2018 (9:03 pm)

    Yep, and a bonfire happening on Alki as we drove past.

    • KBear August 20, 2018 (9:42 pm)

      Did you report it?

  • SJoy August 20, 2018 (9:23 pm)

    And the neighbors are having a campfire in their backyard. Yeah, the ones that are so environmentally aware with their sign of “no pesticides used here”. Brilliant… you just can’t make stupid like this.

  • Driver August 20, 2018 (11:13 pm)

    Noticed little specks of ash on my windshield.

    • WSB August 20, 2018 (11:21 pm)

      The ash definitely has arrived. We noticed it and got multiple reports. It’s the Twisp fire, per @westseawx.

  • 22blades August 21, 2018 (5:10 am)

    I’m wearing a mask when outdoors for any length of time now.  I also changed out the a/c filter with a fresh HEPA filter. I came up from the bay area the other day. It’s pretty much a continuous stretch of smoke now.

  • miws August 21, 2018 (9:03 am)

    Here’s some advice from AAA on how to properly wash the wildfire ash off of your car:https://q13fox.com/2018/08/20/aaa-tips-on-what-to-do-to-protect-your-vehicle-from-wildfire-smoke-and-ash/ ——–Mike

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