In the interest of public health and safety, the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency asks that all residents of eastern Clallam County voluntarily curtail all outdoor burning and to refrain from using wood stoves and fireplaces unless absolutely necessary.

Air pollution levels — specifically fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) — remain elevated in the portion of Clallam County east of the Elwha River area even as the rest of Western Washington has cleared out following a regional air stagnation event.

The prevailing southern winds that cleared the rest of the region’s air are being blocked by the Olympic Range, leaving Port Angeles and Sequim in a pocket of stagnant air, agency officials said. Meanwhile, cold overnight temperatures and chilly days mean more residents are using their wood stoves and fireplaces to heat their homes.

ORCAA asks that residents who do not need to burn to refrain from doing so until this weather pattern changes and the higher than normal air pollution levels dissipate.

Burning wood creates smoke composed of fine and very fine particulate matter (PM2.5). These tiny particles are too small to be filtered by the nose and the body’s other natural defense mechanisms, so they are inhaled deep into the lungs,  agency officials said.

That means exposure to wood smoke may, at the very least, cause breathing problems and can increase — sometimes substantially increase — the severity of existing lung disease, such as asthma. Smoke also has been shown to aggravate heart and vascular disease.

In addition to minimizing the use of wood stoves and fireplaces, ORCAA asks homeowners to use alternative means of disposal to clean up their yards. Chipping and composting are the best option, though other alternatives to burning also are available.

Find more details on options at www.orcaa.org or by calling your local waste disposal company. Also remember burning trash is illegal at all times throughout Washington.