As winds pick up and temperatures continue warming, a burn ban for Snohomish County has been lifted.



Still, officials urge caution before conducting outdoor burning and to continue using cleaner energy sources for home heating when possible.



"If you don't have to use a wood stove and have a cleaner energy source, then please use that," said Snohomish County Fire Marshal Mike McCrary. "Weather patterns can change quickly and we could find ourselves with new restrictions."

Snohomish County's burn ban was a Stage 2 burn ban before being lowered to a Stage 1 burn ban last week. Better weather conditions permitted the cancellation of the burn ban this week.

During a burn ban, the Washington State Department of Health recommends that people sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors, especially when exercising. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse.

Air pollution is especially harmful to people with lung and heart problems, people with diabetes, children, and older adults (over age 65).



For more information on local burn bans, call 425-388-3508.