University Place To Start Enforcing Burn Ban Violations

University Place residents might want to think twice before lighting a fire during a burn ban this winter.

The city says it's working with the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency to help reduce the number of people who aren't observing the rules.

"The agency has asked the city to report violations when we see them," according to David Swindale, the city's director of planning and development services. "I have been working on an inter-agency agreement with the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and some of our field staff will be attending training on this."

During winter months when air stagnates around the South Puget Sound the national air quality standards for fine particulate matter are exceeded. At these times, Swindale says, the agency declares burn bans.

Patch users engaged in a lively discussion when the last burn ban was lifted.