Grant, Adams counties included in burn ban

OLYMPIA - The Washington State Department of Ecology is issuing a temporary Stage 1 burn ban for several Eastern Washington counties.

Starting at 4 p.m. on Sunday, and ending at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, the Stage 1 burn ban will include Adams, Asotin, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Franklin, Ferry, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Stevens and Walla Walla counties.

The DOE states that cool, stagnant air is forecasted to be coming to the area, which puts counties at risk for air pollution to reach unhealthy levels.

A Stage 1 burn ban prohibits all outdoor burning and use of uncertified wood-burning devices. Banned burning devices include fireplaces and wood stoves. Inserts are only prohibited if they are a home's only adequate source of heat. Certified wood-burning devices and pellet stoves are useable.

Outdoor residential, agricultural and forest burning are also prohibited, according to the DOE. The burn bans do not apply on reservations lands.

For more information, visit www.WaBurnBans.net.

- Staff report