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Department of Ecology News Release - Jan. 9, 2003
03-008
OLYMPIA - High pressure north and east of Washington is clearing out the state's stagnant air, allowing air quality to return to healthier levels everywhere except in parts of southwest Washington.
As a result, the Department of Ecology (Ecology) has lifted its air quality advisory for most of the state. The advisory remains in effect inland from Olympia south to the vicinity of Woodland.
Stagnant air patterns aren't unusual in winter, though. People can help keep the next air stagnation event under control by keeping their cars tuned up, inflating their tires properly, and replacing older woodstoves with certified stoves or cleaner sources of fuel.
If people are not sure whether it's okay to use their wood stove or fireplace, they may call their local clean-air agency.
A good rule is that if it is windy or rainy outside, it's probably okay to burn. If the air is very foggy or still, there is probably an air inversion and burning is not a good idea.
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Contact: Leslie Thorpe, public information manager, 360-407-6848; pager, 360-534-8590
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
