Burn ban lifted in Spokane

A stage-2 burn ban in effect since Monday afternoon was lifted this morning as air quality improved. The Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency said today’s snow storm was promising to scour out the layer of polluted air that developed after an arctic front brought cold and stable air to the region late last week. Pollutants started to build on Monday and were approaching the unhealthful range for persons with breathing problems. As a result, the agency banned all indoor burning within the county’s smoke control zone, which coincides with the urban and surburban areas. Also, outdoor burning was banned. Air quality this morning was still in the moderate range, but had improved markedly from Monday afternoon. It was the first stage-2 ban since 1998. The agency bypassed a less-restrictive stage-1 ban in which the use of certified stoves and fireplace inserts is still allowed. Under both bans, homes with no other sources of heat are allowed to burn.