Outdoor burn ban declared for Western Washington tribal reservations

Published 2:16 pm Thursday, December 31, 2015

For the Reporter

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has declared a ban on all outdoor open burning on the Muckleshoot Reservation and other tribal lands throughout the state because of stagnant air conditions and elevated air pollution.

The ban is effective at 8 a.m. Friday.

The burn bans will continue until revised or canceled.

The burn ban applies to all outdoor and agricultural burning, including camping and recreational fires, in all areas, regardless of ownership or tribal membership, within external reservation boundaries.

Ceremonial and traditional fires are exempt from the burn ban.

For areas outside reservation boundaries, please contact your local clean air agency, fire department, or the Washington State Department of Ecology.

EPA requests that reservation residents reduce all sources of air pollution as much as possible, including excess driving and idling of vehicles, and the use of woodstoves and fireplaces, unless they are the only adequate source of heat.

To check conditions in your area, go to www.airnow.gov or fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa.

For burn ban status, visit waburnbans.net or contact EPA at 1-800-424-4372 or by email at R10_farrhotline@epa.gov.