Spokane7
58°
January 4, 2011 in City
Agency orders ban on burning
Stagnant air allowing pollution to build up
For the first time in more than a decade, air-quality authorities issued a stage-2 burning ban Monday, meaning all indoor wood-burning and outdoor burning is prohibited except in homes where there’s no other source of heat.
The Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency posted the ban after air quality deteriorated quickly during the day.
The National Weather Service issued an air stagnation advisory Monday for nearly all of Eastern Washington and low-lying areas in northeast Oregon.
Margee Chambers, public information specialist for the clean air agency, said pollution levels soared during the day, forcing the agency to bypass a partial stage-1 ban that limits indoor wood-burning to certified stoves and fireplace inserts only.
“Today, the pollution levels spiked so quickly,” she said Monday.
One measuring site on Broadway Avenue registered 40 parts per million of fine particulates in the air. Action to ban burning can begin at 25 ppm. Wood smoke is the primary offender.
It is the first stage-2 burn ban in Spokane since April 1998. Another stage-2 ban was called in February 1993.
A stage-1 ban was last ordered in Nov. 2007 and lasted for five days, Chambers said.
Cold, heavy air left over from last week’s arctic front has been hugging the ground for several days allowing pollution – mainly wood smoke – to build up.
The air stagnation advisory means that pollution levels could rise to unhealthy levels until Thursday morning when a new Pacific storm will have a chance to clear the air. The advisory was in effect for areas below 3,000 feet in elevation.
In Spokane, the air quality index was at 87, in the moderate range, about noon and then went to 90 by 3 p.m. when the ban was ordered. Air quality is considered to be unhealthy for persons with respiratory problems at 100 and higher. Persons with breathing problems are advised to stay indoors and limit physical activity.
Higher air pressure has been creating downward motion in the atmosphere, preventing the trapped air at the lower elevations from mixing with cleaner air. A persistent layer of stratus clouds appeared over the region Monday, a sign that stagnant conditions were in place.
Air stagnation in the Puget Sound region led to a series of stage-1 and stage-2 burn bans in that region on Sunday. Air quality experts said some of that polluted air may be pushed eastward by a Pacific storm that is expected this evening through Saturday. Gusty winds are expected on Saturday, and that should clean out the region’s air.
Returning farmland to a state of nature 
mikeln on January 04 at 5:43 a.m.
Couldn’t possibly be the 70,000 cars starting up every mornining that is causing most of the problem. I like being lied to as much as the next guy, but this is too much.
DHF on January 04 at 6:28 a.m.
Boy this should make Avista HAPPY.
mikeln on January 04 at 6:47 a.m.
I love coming in from the north during summer, no wood stoves burning then, yet spokane can be seen sitting in a bubble of pollution. It’s the cars, plain and simple.
lewis8457 on January 04 at 7:49 a.m.
I think it has more to do with the hot air coming out of city hall.
MrNatural on January 04 at 8:59 a.m.
Stagnant air!…a new conservative elect!…coincidence?….I think not…The Omen
soccermomsusie on January 04 at 9:20 a.m.
I think my husband might be going to the Dark Side (Liberalism). He told me that we should do our part to cut back on air pollution!!
WHAT?!?!
We have a lot of errands to run today, so he told me to warm the Hummer up, but do it with the garage door closed so the exhaust won’t leak out and sully Spokane’s air. I think he is out of his mind.
Frankly, I have been sitting in here for 10 minutes and the air in my garage doesn’t look any dirtier to me! I think this whole “cars cause pollution” stuff is a bunch of liberal BS. Where is he anyway?
I have to say it’s not a bad idea as the garage has gotten very warm and cozy…
HEAR OUR VOICEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
MrNatural on January 04 at 9:29 a.m.
I think you’re right suzie…your old man might be collecting carbon credits
misjustice on January 04 at 10:06 a.m.
And survivor’s benefits…drive towards the light, Susie…drive toward the light. Jesus is waiting for you!
; )
Sweetfire on January 04 at 6:59 p.m.
Liberalism is a mental disorder.
Margee Chambers…get a clue, it is not all wood smoke.
Teseract on January 04 at 8:46 p.m.
I dunno, in East Central there’s so many people burning wood and anything else they can find to keep warm without spending their meager incomes on huge Avista bills, especially after the recent rate hike. All the houses are older places as well and don’t have nearly the energy efficiency of even houses built in the 60’s and 70’s.
I remember one poor old gentleman who knocked on our door one day asking if we minded if he took some wood scraps that were piled in the alley behind our back fence that the landlord had left. We told him sure, but warned him that some of the stuff may be construction related from the house and may have lead paint on it, which is bad news when you burn it.
What’s worse, hypothermia or lead poisoning? I hope he never had to make that decision, no thanks to Avista.