Burn ban means no fires at home or at the beach

A stage one burn ban goes into effect for King County at 4 p.m. today, affecting residential burning and beach fires.

People burning Christmas trees at the Polar Bear Plunge on Jan. 1 at Golden Gardens

“High pressure over the Puget Sound region will bring cold temperatures and calm winds,” according to forecasters with the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. “Air quality is expected to deteriorate at least through Friday, especially in communities where residential wood burning is common.”

During a Stage 1 burn ban:

No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood 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 chimneys.

Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

Seattle Parks and Recreation reminds people that this ban does include beach fires at Golden Gardens.