Wood stove use discouraged

At least another day of stagnant air is in store for the region. Officials in Idaho and Washington are politely asking residents to avoid making the situation worse by using wood stoves.

The skies above are expected to receive a flush of fresh air by late Saturday morning, according to an air stagnation advisory issued by the National Weather Service.

Under these conditions, pollutants in the air can build up to unhealthy levels. Although pollution levels have been higher than normal throughout the week, air quality monitors across the region indicated it hasn’t yet been unhealthy for the most sensitive groups, especially the elderly or those with chronic lung problems.

Ron Edgar, with the Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority, said wood stove use has been in slow decline in the Spokane area and more people are burning using stoves that pass Washington’s air emissions standards. The old stoves belched upward of 25 times the pollution of the newer, cleaner burning stoves, he said.

Energy price spikes, however, have many people reconsidering wood.

“We’re a little concerned as the price of oil is over $3 a gallon for home heating and the price of natural gas is going up that people might go back to wood stoves,” Edgar said.

Brief bouts of stagnant air are common in the Inland Northwest during winter. Dr. David York, a pulmonologist in Coeur d’Alene, said a few days of elevated pollution levels doesn’t usually cause a spike in office visits from people with chronic lung problems.

“The people who come in right away have been getting sick from something prior to that. This can just be the straw that broke the camel’s back,” York said.

York added that the stagnant air can be especially irritating for asthmatics or others suffering from already inflamed airways.

The voluntary burn bans are expected to remain in effect until fresh air arrives Saturday morning.

– James Hagengruber

Clark Fork, Idaho

Tree lighting set for Saturday

Cabinet Mountain Calvary Chapel in Clark Fork will host the fifth annual community tree lighting event at 6 p.m. Saturday at Clark Fork Junior/Senior High School on state Highway 200.

The tradition began five years ago when Avista helped church members string the 40-foot tall fir tree with lights, and the school allowed the church to run an underground power supply to the tree. Attendance at the event has continued to grow and last year attracted about 200 people, according to CMCC pastor Scott Douglas.

The tree was re-strung with new LED lights this year and should add a whole new dimension of color, Douglas said.

Following the lighting ceremony, there will be indoor treats, singing and a Christmas play in the school auditorium.

For information, call Pastor Douglas at (208) 266-1911.

– Sherry Adkins