News Releases from Region 10

EPA calls outdoor burn bans for several Northwest Indian Reservations beginning Friday

(Seattle -- November 25, 2015) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is calling a ban on outdoor burning for the following Indian reservations in Washington State due to stagnant air conditions and high air quality monitor readings in parts of our region. The burn bans for the reservations listed below are effective as of 12:00 a.m., Friday, November 27, and will continue until further notice.

Reservations affected in Western Washington:

Lummi Reservation
Nooksack Reservation
Upper Skagit Reservation
Sauk-Suiattle Reservation
Stillaguamish Reservation
Tulalip Reservation
Snoqualmie Reservation
Puyallup Reservation
Muckleshoot Reservation
Nisqually Reservation

Reservations affected in Eastern Washington:

Spokane Reservation
Colville Reservation
Yakama Reservation

The burn bans apply to all outdoor and agricultural burning, including camping and recreational fires, to the all areas within reservation boundaries. Ceremonial and traditional fires are exempt from the outdoor burn ban.

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

Air pollution can have significant health impacts. Cooperation from the community will help people who are at risk during this period. Those most at risk are children, the elderly, pregnant women, people with diabetes, asthma or difficulty breathing, and anyone with heart problems. People at risk should avoid outdoor exercise and minimize exposure to outdoor pollution as much as possible.

Please call 1-800-424-4372 for current burn ban status updates.