LAKE COUNTY — Concerns about air quality and fire safety will usher in a countywide burn ban Thursday, according to Deputy Lake County Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart and Lake County Fire Chiefs Association Vice President Howard Strickler.
Open, outdoor fires will be allowed only by exception after May 1, when the burn ban goes into effect. Exceptions for agricultural burning are available from the Lake County Air Quality Management District.
“The primary reason for the ban is meteorology,” Gearhart said. Meteorology is the study of weather and atmospheric conditions. Gearhart said the ban keeps Lake County”s air quality good, and expected rainfall affects when the ban is lifted.
“For the summer months, there is not the dispersion of chemical pollutants in the air, and they stick around more and cook in the sun and develop into smog,” Gearhart said.
Gearhart said Lake County meets all state and federal standards for air quality, including ozone particulate count. Smoke particles react with ultraviolet sunlight to create smog and ozone, according to Gearhart. Lake County”s air quality is third best in the nation, and the only district, county or air basin in the state that is recognized by the California Air Resources Board that meets all ambient air quality standards.
“As storm fronts come through, the winds mix the air. In the summer months, we have more stagnant air days because no storms are coming through and we don”t get that good mixing,” Gearhart said.
Agricultural exceptions are available for farmers who need to burn fields to get rid of pests or noxious weeds, or make ready for new crops, Gearhart said. The first step is to call the nearest fire district and ask for an inspection of the materials to be burned and the area where the burn is planned. Once the fire district declares the burn safe, Lake County Air Management District can issue a burn permit and agree on the best date to hold the burn.
Air quality is not the only reason for the burn ban, according to Kelseyville Fire Captain Dave Bosserman, who said the ban reduces the number of brush and wildland fires.
“Near the end of April, we start seeing control burn escapes that create grass fires and wildland fires. It”s dry enough that if we have a little wind, we can have a problem,” Strickler said.
Strickler said red flag conditions declared by area fire chiefs or by Cal Fire prohibit all fires, even by permit, because of high wind conditions, short staffing or extreme dryness.
In addition, Cal Fire declares fire season region by region depending on relative climate and humidity. Fire season can be declared as early as May or as late as September, Strickler said. For Lake County, Strickler said fire season could begin in late May or early June if dry weather conditions continue.
“This is a drier year than average,” Gearhart said. Lake County”s rainfall to date is behind its annual average rainfall, he said.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
