Skip to main content

You make this possible. Support our independent, nonprofit newsroom today.

Give Now

Where There's Smoke There'll Be Fines In Parts Of Pierce County

caption: Old or uncertified wood burning stoves will be banned in parts of Pierce County starting in October.
Enlarge Icon
Old or uncertified wood burning stoves will be banned in parts of Pierce County starting in October.
Flickr Photo/Michael Buist (CC BY NC ND)/http://bit.ly/1LkR6HX

Ross Reynolds interviews Craig Kenworthy, executive director of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, about why they're banning all old wood stoves in Tacoma and the Puyallup River valley.

Despite efforts to get people to voluntarily disable or remove their polluting older model wood stoves, there are still an estimated 20,000 stoves still in use in that part of Pierce County. Beginning in October, those using an older wood stove, except if it's a primary source of heat, will face a $1,500 fine.

Why you can trust KUOW