Continuing cold weather and rising air pollution have prompted a Stage 2 burn ban in Pierce County, effective at 12 p.m. noon today and until further notice. Air quality degraded last night in parts of Pierce County, triggering the need for a Stage 2 burn ban. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency forecasters expect little wind this evening, which will cause air quality to again deteriorate throughout the region, especially in communities where residential wood burning is common. In these communities air quality could reach levels considered "unhealthy for sensitive groups." During a Stage 2 burn ban: * No burning is allowed in ANY wood-burning fireplaces, wood stoves or fireplace inserts (certified or uncertified) or pellet 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. For more information or to sign up for burn ban alerts, visit www.pscleanair.org/burnban<http://www.pscleanair.org/burnban>. For information about air pollution issues in Tacoma and Pierce County, please visit www.cleanairpiercecounty.org<http://www.cleanairpiercecounty.org>. Melissa Paulson Communications Specialist Puget Sound Clean Air Agency 1904 Third Avenue, Suite 105 Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 689-4045 (direct) (800) 552-3565 (toll free) melissap@pscleanair.org www.pscleanair.org www.cleanairpiercecounty.org *Please consider the environment before printing this email. All email communication is subject to public disclosure.