Stage 1 burn banned announced for Pierce and Snohomish counties.
November 30, 2011 — Due to forecasted stagnant weather conditions and rising air pollution levels, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is issuing a Stage 1 burn ban for Pierce and Snohomish counties, effective at 5:00 p.m. today, November 30, 2011. This ban is in effect until further notice.
A large ridge of high pressure off the Pacific Coast is expected to bring cold evenings and poor ventilation to the Pacific Northwest for the next several days. Pollution levels are expected to rise throughout the Puget Sound region, but especially in Pierce and Snohomish county communities where residential wood burning is common. Air pollution levels in these areas could reach “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
“Smoke from fireplaces and wood stoves is the single largest source of air pollution in our neighborhoods in the wintertime — and this pollution can build up quickly when it’s cold and not very windy,” said Craig Kenworthy, Executive Director of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. “Breathing this smoke causes major medical problems in vulnerable groups like children and the elderly. Please help them by avoiding burning when our air quality is poor or deteriorating.”
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.
- Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.
It is OK to use natural gas, propane, pellet and EPA certified wood stoves or inserts during a Stage 1 burn ban.
The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors, especially when exercising. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to people with lung and heart problems, people with diabetes, children, and older adults (over age 65).
This is the first air quality burn ban of the season for the Puget Sound region. The purpose of a burn ban is to reduce the amount of pollution that is creating unhealthy air. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency staff will continue to
Did The 2012 Mayan Calendar Get It Wrong?
On November 8th an aircraft sized asteroid whizzed past Earth with enough destructive power to wipe out civilization.
The asteroid known as 2005 YU55 is expected to circle back for another close Earth encounter in 2041 – The exact orbit is unknown because the asteroid will first pass by Venus which will affect it’s orbit.
It’s reasonable to assume that the great and mysterious Mayan civilization wasn’t all that great. . .since it may have calculated that the asteroid would hit Earth next year around the same time.
There are many variables to influence the orbit of such an asteroid. . .possibly including flares from the sun’s surface, other close encounters with planets, moons and asteroids.
Maybe the Mayan’s did not even believe that the earth would end in 2012 – maybe they just stopped for a rest until they needed a new calendar. At any rate, don’t sell the house or quit the job just yet.
What’s wrong with the 5 o’clock news?
Why does the local 5 o’clock news always promote crime stories?
Is it because of the old newspaper adage “If it bleeds, it leads”?
Or is it because it’s cheap?
Is it cheaper to station a reporter at the police station than the university?
Or just easier?
Why is the local county sheriff’s name better known than anyone (excluding sports) at our wonderful university?
Would it be safe to bet $10,000 dollars that tonight’s 5 o’clock news first story will be about a molestation, a murder, a robbery, a car-jacking, a fire or other crime related story?
Do the crime stories make us feel safer knowing our police are and news crews are working?
Or is it just cheap entertainment easy to produce that fly’s under the flag of “news”?