The cold weather not also dries out your skin, but it can also increase your risk for dental problems. Many people tend to get worried about increased teeth’ sensitivity before winter sets in. Remember to take a few precautions and tips listed below to avoid tooth pain during winter and keep those pearly whites smiling through the chilly months.

Here are 7 ultimate tips for dental care and to avoid tooth pain:

1. Stay hydrated

During winter, there is a lack of moisture in the air. The indoor air is also dry, which can lead to dehydration. Though saliva helps to naturally cleanse the mouth and reduces the number of bacteria that can cause dental decay, it’s still important to drink at least 2 liters of water every day to avoid dehydration. Water also helps to cleanse your mouth!

2. Limit your sugar intake

Keeping a check on your sugar intake while drinking hot beverages such as tea or coffee during winter to stay warm is recommended. Sugar attracts the tiny bacteria that cause gingivitis and gum disease. So, avoid the excess consumption of sugar to maintain good oral health.

Teeth enamel can be affected by sugary drinks. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

3. Check your brushing technique

If you are prone to sensitive teeth, especially during the winter season, consider using a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush your teeth more gently around the gums. Use a desensitizing toothpaste containing potassium nitrate and strontium chloride. Such ingredients help to shield nerve endings from irritants which prevent tooth pain.

4. Go for regular dental check-ups

Visiting a dental clinic every six months is a must if you want to take care of your oral health. Many people are not aware of the fact that dental problems increase the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes, especially gum disease. Therefore, it is important that you take care of your dental health as well.

Also read: For a radiant smile, stop making these 5 oral health mistakes

5. Take care of cold sores

Harsh winter winds can make you more susceptible to cold sores. An increase in cold sores is also possible because the winter season tends to reactive the HSV -1 (Herpes simplex). Avoid harsh winter weather by wrapping your face in a scarf and keeping your lips moisturized to reduce the risk of cold sores. Illnesses such as colds, flu, and bacterial infections also seem to pop up when the weather is cold and these problems are also responsible for cold sores. So, when you’re down with a cold or cough, visit your doctor and take proper treatment.

6. Avoid acidic foods and beverages

Acidic foods and beverages soften the outer layer of teeth (enamel) which makes them prone to decay and erosion. So watch your diet and try to rinse with water or mouthwash after eating acidic foods.

Avoid acidic foods! Image courtesy: Shutterstock

7. Use a mouthguard

Use a mouthguard, also known as a gumshield, to prevent the chances of dental injuries that might occur while participating in sports. It also helps to protect your teeth and gums during winter. Consult a dentist if you are confused about whether you need a mouthguard or not.

Takeaway

Keeping all these tips in mind will help you protect your oral health during winter. In case you see any symptoms of oral health issues, schedule an appointment at the nearby dental clinic at the earliest.

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Randle, Pe Ell, Mossyrock Forest Fires Show ‘Seasons Are Getting Longer,’  Says DNR 

By Isabel Vander Stoep / [email protected]

With a dry November, not even previous rainfall or below-freezing temperatures could stop a swell of over a dozen fires across Western Washington, according to the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The agency described the smattering of late November fires as “uncommon.”

Three of those in the last week have been in Lewis County, while others were scattered across the rest of the western side of the Cascades, even as far north as Neah Bay. Two fires in the Olympic Region and one in the Pacific Cascade Region — which spans Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark and Skamania counties along with most of Grays Harbor County — caused evacuations late last week and over the weekend. Throughout the Pacific Cascade Region, no injuries or damage to structures took place due to the blazes, according to Janet Pearce, a spokesperson for DNR.

The largest in Lewis took place about 6 miles southwest of Randle, according to DNR information provided to The Chronicle and posted on the agency’s Twitter account. It was named the Footrot Fire after its host harvest unit. It grew to 50 acres over the weekend and was started by a slash burn that got out of control on industrial timber land.

Pearce said a slash burn in this instance refers to forest management practices, usually when a small forest landowner who burns debris piles. 

The Footrot Fire is currently in patrol status and is being staffed daily by the landowner, which is in the process of mopping it up, according to a DNR update.

“Unfortunately this weekend the wind picked up,” Pearce said, adding “They have certain things on the (burn) permit they have to follow, including wind. So, who knows?”

Likewise, an estimated 20 acres of forest burned south of Pe Ell due to an escaped slash fire. Named the Huckleberry Fire, it is staffed with landowner resources and DNR is performing compliance checks on the area.

Five acres of land near Riffe Lake also reportedly burned late last week. The incident was named the Riffe Fire. Lewis County Fire District 4 in Randle was first called in for the hot spot, according to the fire station office. The fire took place on Port Blakely land, so Randle handed it off to DNR and the landowner, the office reported. The fire had not increased in size as of a Monday morning update.

According to an email from Jeff Bortner, the Pacific Cascade Region wildland fire district manager, strong winds, clear skies and low humidity were to blame for the several blazes.

“It’s amazing that we’re still dry even with that moisture that we did have,” said Pearce, later adding, “This is not a common occurrence but we are expecting (late season fire frequency) to increase as seasons are getting longer.”

On the upside, Bortner wrote, rain in the forecast for Tuesday should aide firefighting efforts, especially given it has been two weeks since the majority of the region last received measurable precipitation.

The Southwest Clean Air Agency, which covers Southwest Washington, states on its website that seasonal burn bans last typically from July through September. 

But, with the recent dryness, high winds and low humidity, the agency has called on a stage one burn ban, meaning a postponement of recreational fires and other restrictions. 

Get additional information about burns in Lewis County at www.lewiscountywa.gov/communitydevelopment or by calling the 24-hour automated information line at 360-740-1133.

Follow along with wildfire updates from DNR at https://twitter.com/waDNR_fire.

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Newswise — Researchers now have a unique resource for identifying new biomarkers of environmental exposures in early life and understanding their health effects. This is thanks to a study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), an institution supported by “la Caixa” Foundation, which systematically documented all associations between a wide range of early life exposures and molecular profiles at different levels, including the epigenome (DNA methylation), transcriptome (gene expression) and metabolome (metabolites). The findings, which are part of the EU-funded ATHLETE project, have been published in Nature Communications and are publicly available in https://helixomics.isglobal.org.

Our health depends greatly on the environment we live in. In fact, 70 -90% of the risk of developing a disease is determined by our exposome: a multitude of environmental factors (i.e. non-genetic factors) to which we are exposed throughout our life. And yet, we still have limited knowledge on which are these environmental hazards, how they interact, and what biological processes they trigger.

“Early life is a particularly important period, since exposures during these developmentally vulnerable periods may have pronounced effects at the molecular level, which may not be clinically detectable until adulthood,” explains Martine Vrijheid, Head of the Childhood and Environment Programme at ISGlobal.

In this study, the research team led by Vrijheid aimed to associate multiple chemical, outdoor, social and lifestyle exposures (92 in pregnancy and 116 when the children were 6-11 years old), with molecular profiles in the same children (DNA methylation and gene transcription in blood, plasma proteins, and metabolites in serum and urine). The analysis included 1,301 mother-child pairs of the Human Early Life Exposome (HELIX) project, a long-term cohort study in six European countries (Spain, UK, France, Lithuania, Norway and Greece). 

“The high-performance computing, using massive parallel computers, allowed us to overcome one of the main challenges faced in big ‘omic’ data analyses,” says Juan R Gonzalez, senior co-author. The analysis identified 1,170 significant associations (249 in pregnancy and 921 in childhood) which provide insights into potential biological responses and sources of exposure. Pregnancy exposures, such as maternal smoking, the heavy metal cadmium, or the trace mineral molybdenum, were mostly associated with changes in DNA methylation. In contrast, childhood exposures were associated with signatures at all molecular levels, most particularly with metabolites in serum. The findings revealed, for example, that children are exposed to chemical pollutants through their diet.

“We identified novel multi-omics associations with childhood exposure to essential trace elements, weather conditions, indoor air quality, and phthalates and parabens,” says Léa Maitre, first author. “By visualizing these associations as networks, we can better understand if a given molecular profile is connected to several exposures or vice versa, and thereby identify potential biological pathways,” she adds.

Indeed, the findings provide plausible mechanisms of disease for six groups of exposures: copper, tobacco smoke, indoor air quality during childhood, persistent organic pollutants, phthalates and parabens, and weather conditions. For example, child exposure to copper was associated with almost 90 molecular features, including increased levels of C-reactive protein (an inflammation marker). Temperature, humidity and other weather conditions during the month before the samples were taken, were associated with serum metabolites involved in sleep and depression, proteins involved in thermoregulation, and immune response genes.

“With the rich exposome and molecular information available in our catalogue, we provide a valuable resource to the scientific community for finding exposure biomarkers, identifying exposure sources, improving the understanding of disease mechanisms, and, ultimately, promoting public health policies,” concludes Vrijheid.

Reference:

Maitre L, Bustamante M, Hernandez-Ferrer C … , González JR, Keun HC, Vrijheid M. Multi-omics signatures of the human early life exposome. 2022. Nature Comms. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-34422-2  

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Originally Appeared Here

If the kitchen is the heart of the home, the oven is the heart of the kitchen. As a major appliance that generates heat, ovens inevitably generate significant greenhouse gas emissions. But cooking at home is still more sustainable than eating out, not to mention healthier. So, if you eat, you should cook. But with the right products and cooking habits, you can cut carbon emissions from the heart of your kitchen.

Environmental Impacts of Your Range

Many cooks prefer a gas stove, but when you’re cooking with gas, you are directly burning fossil fuels to heat your food. If you only cook three times a week, your gas range (the combination of oven and stovetop) will release 91 kg/CO2 in a year – that’s about 3 1/3 pounds of greenhouse gas released each time you cook. The actual emissions could be much higher than estimates because gas lines leak methane along their entire length. Gas ranges are associated with poor indoor air quality, too. They release nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde into the home. One older study found that children in homes with gas stoves were 20% more likely to develop a respiratory illness. For anyone without an exhaust fan directly above your gas stove that vents outdoors, that research still holds true.

Conventional electric ranges don’t contribute to indoor air problems because the combustion takes place far away. But unless the electricity comes from renewable energy, electric ranges are still responsible for greenhouse gas emissions. Consumer Ecology has a calculator for the carbon footprint of different methods of cooking using electric and gas appliances. Counterintuitively, your electric range may generate more greenhouse gas emissions than a gas range because converting fossil fuels to electricity is inefficient.

Buying Better Appliances

There is no Energy Star label for residential ovens and stoves. But some choices are more efficient than others. Electric convection ovens save energy by using a fan to circulate hot air around the food, decreasing cook times. Self-cleaning ovens have more insulation, which can further reduce lost heat and improve efficiency.

Induction technology has existed for more than a century, but induction stovetops are just now becoming commonplace, and are still more expensive than other options. Magnetic induction elements heat iron or steel pans directly by exciting the molecules magnetically. There is no open flame, and the cooktop surface remains cool even while cooking much faster. This makes magnetic induction stovetops safer than either gas or electric stoves, and almost twice as efficient. Research conducted by Electric Power Research Institute indicated that a medium-sized gas burner consumes 2,637 watts per hour compared to an induction cooker, which consumes 1,400 watts per hour.

For indoor cooking, the most efficient option is a self-cleaning convection oven with a magnetic induction stovetop. But when you switch to induction cooking, you may have to recycle your old cookware.

Minimizing Your Range’s Impact

Until induction stovetops became a feasible option, cooking habits affected energy efficiency more than which appliance you bought. To cook most efficiently on the stovetop, covering pots with lids prevents heat from escaping, and can reduce energy use by up to two-thirds. Minimize heating requirements by using the smallest pan necessary. Similarly, only boil as much water as needed.

Obviously, you should never forget to turn off the oven when you are done. You can even turn off the oven a few minutes early; the heat already inside the oven will finish cooking the food. Like refrigerators, ovens are most efficient when well filled. Cook several dishes at the same time or cook larger portions for reheating later. Reheating takes less energy than cooking. Also in the oven, use ceramic or glass pans, which require lower oven temperatures (by about 25°F). Use thermometers or timers to avoid overcooking. Don’t cover oven racks with foil—this reduces heat flow and increases cooking time. Only run the self-cleaning function right after you’ve finished using the oven so it’s already warm.

Keeping your appliances clean and in good repair will prolong their useful life. You can do some simple repairs on gas ranges yourself. For more complicated issues, Consumer Reports’ tool Should You Repair or Replace Your Broken Appliance?  uses product costs, depreciation rates, and survey data to help you make the right choice. And when the answer is “replace” make sure you recycle the old one.

Feature image mgattorna on Pixabay

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21/11/2022  Hi-Line Industries Ltd

Estimates suggest that Class 4 moisture content according to ISO 8573-1 is acceptable in the majority of compressed air system applications, thus supporting the use of refrigeration dryer technology. However, where applications demand higher levels of moisture removal, desiccant tends to be the go-to technology. The long-standing problem here is the higher cost associated with desiccant dryers, which is why Hi-line Industries, a UK-based leader in the design, manufacture and installation of energy-efficient compressed air purification equipment, is addressing this issue with its new Hi-Plex dual technology dryers. This hybrid solution combines Hi-line’s established refrigeration and PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) air treatment technologies, creating an energy-efficient system at low capital cost compared with standard heat-regeneration desiccant air dryers.

So how does Hi-Plex work? Well, a Hi-line Tundra refrigeration system first removes bulk moisture via zero loss auto-drains, after which it chills the air to +1°C in the heat exchanger, condensing out all water to a +3°C PDP (Pressure Dewpoint). From here, the pre-dried air passes into an energy-efficient HPSA (Hi-line Pressure Swing Adsorption) dryer where it is further dried via adsorption to lower dewpoints of between -20°C PDP and -70°C PDP depending on end-user requirements, meeting Class 2 moisture content in accordance with ISO8573.1. As a point of note, Hi-line can add an Activated Carbon Tower for Class 0 applications.

Hi-Plex regeneration takes place by deploying a vacuumed-assisted fan, which uses a reduced amount of purge air to cause a desorption effect within the desiccant beds. A side-channel vacuum pump removes the small amount of remaining water (via exhaust silencers) back to the atmosphere from where it came. This plug and play system is fully automatic: wet air in – dry air out.

Importantly, Hi-Plex high-performance dual technology dryers typically run at only 1-2% purge in comparison with 13-15% on a standard desiccant air dryer. Even more savings are achievable following the specification of Hi-line’s optional AEMS (Automatic Energy Management System) for dewpoint control. AEMS features a digital dewpoint readout, high-humidity alarm, and set and demand regeneration function. As a result, customers can ensure they only use a minimal amount of energy to achieve dewpoints at any given time. In total, energy savings of over 70% are achievable compared with a conventional desiccant dryer, offering far quicker return on investment (ROI).

Every Hi-Plex dual technology dryer is application-specific, but built from standard off-the-shelf Hi-line products. The company adds all the components, stainless steel pipework and filtration to a compact skid at its UK headquarters and manufacturing facility in Burton-upon-Trent. Hi-line will happily cater for any special requirements, such as even smaller footprint or lower height dimension to fit inside a low-ceiling compressor house, for example. The company can also facilitate connection to customer software or a BMS (Building Management System).

Hi-Plex systems are available from 165 to 1700 Scfm, and from 3.1 to 10.8 kW installed power. A five-year warranty is standard subject to service criteria.

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It’s hard to imagine how the elections just past could have gone worse for Florida Democrats. Republican Governor Ron DeSantis was re-elected by 19 points. The GOP-controlled Legislature owns a two-thirds majority in both chambers. There’s not much the Democrats can do except an autopsy — and it’s focusing on one group in particular: Black voters.

Former Democratic state Senator Dwight Bullard points out that although DeSantis won by a bigger margin this year than in 2018, he actually had fewer votes. Bullard says his party could have done better by talking more about the pocketbook issues where people are hurting.

“I’ve talked to a multitude of Floridians, but black Floridians in particular, who are talking about the notion that their rent has gone up $600 or more,” Bullard said. “I need somebody to talk about that, right? How are you going to help me with that?”

Those pocketbook issues matter to all Floridians, but to Black voters, they’re especially important, says Sen. Shevrin Jones, who is now one of just two Black state senators.

“First off, Black people are not a monolith,” Jones said. “Because they believe this is our dedicated group of people. And so there’s no need or us to engage them. Matter of fact, we can go and engage them three months before the election, or six months before the election. But I think we walked into a ‘mess around and find out’ situation.”

In August, DeSantis announced the arrests of several formerly incarcerated people for voter fraud because they cast ballots in the 2020 elections despite having a disqualifying felony. Most of the people arrested are Black. And they say they were told they could vote by state officials. Bullard believes those arrests alone have had a chilling effect on Black voter turnout.

“Unfortunately the story that’s not being told enough…the idea that the DeSantis Administration both gives you the green light to vote as a returning citizen, and then has the audacity to then slap your hand when you’ve done something that they had a complete hand in making sure you were able to do,” he said. “For lack of a better term, it’s diabolical.”

Florida’s newly redrawn state legislative and congressional districts also favor Republicans. The governor pushed changes that eliminated a prominent Black voting district in North Florida.

Then there was the money, says Steve Schale, a longtime Democratic strategist. DeSantis collected close to $200 million.

“I love Charlie Crist to death, but you know, they didn’t have an actual campaign,” Schale said. “I suspect when the numbers are all said and done, that Charlie Crist probably in the general election spent less money in the entire 9 or 10 weeks of the general election than DeSantis spent in any one of the one weeks of the election.”

Given time, those problems might have solutions. But whose interests are Florida Democrats really fighting for? Representative Anna Eskamani, Democrat of Orlando, believes Democrats’ overall silence on economic issues was the biggest mistake.

“And I think where Democrats continuously struggle is that we self-center ourselves to meet the needs of corporate consultants and donors,” said Eskamani. “Whether it’s the rising cost of rent or utilities or property insurance or the need for clean air and clean water, these are all issues that intersect with actions by corporate America.”

The Democrats cave to those corporate interests, she says.

“And Democrats are often silent in championing these issues because they don’t to want to irritate their corporate donors and potentially lose that source of financial backing,” said Eskamani. “And if we’re to continue to self-center ourselves and bend over backwards to serve corporate actors versus constituents, then we’re going to see the same outcomes time and time again.”

Jones agrees, and says Democrats have to learn how to walk and chew gum at the same time. And they have to be present in the communities that form their base of support.

“Blacks in communities have made it clear that you have to give me something to vote for,” he said. “Don’t tell me how bad something is, without moving the needle in my community.”

So far Florida Democrats are crying and licking their wounds. The true test of their character will be whether they can get back up again.

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Originally Appeared Here

The air filters that are currently being employed supposedly work on a particle capture mechanism; where when the filter is used continuously, it can turn into a breeding ground for germs.

The Professor-in-charge of Innovation and Incubation, IIT Kanpur, Ankush Sharma, stated, “The novel air purification technology used in these air filters has successfully proven its efficiency towards protecting us from life-threatening viruses.”

The aforementioned novel tech has undergone a test at an NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) accredited lab where it was able to deactivate SARS-CoV-2 (delta variant) with an ideal efficiency of 99.24%.

Basically, the researchers claim that the technology can purify 99% air in merely 1 hour.

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Originally Appeared Here

If you live in metropolitan cities, you are probably aware of the rising pollution levels at your place. Exposure to high levels of air pollutants for an extended period or repeatedly may cause serious harm to your skin.

As these places continues to get engulfed in smog with the air quality approaching a hazardous level, the harmful pollutants in the air may hamper your skin if appropriate care is not taken. To rescue your skin from harsh pollutants, a team of sensitive skin experts from Cetaphil shares a few tips to ensure our skin doesn’t lose its nourishment.

Air purifier

Invest in a good air purifier for yourself. Since most allergies stem from dust, a good quality air purifier is ideal to help clean the home environment and remove dust and other harmful particles.

Practice good hygiene

Always wash your hands thoroughly after every task and before touching your skin. Change your clothes at least twice a day and ensure that you take a bath regularly to remove all the pollutants from your skin.

Keep the skin nourished

Your skin may suffer because of increased pollution and seasonal changes, making it more sensitive and prone to irritation and allergies. People with sensitive skin may have a thinner or weakened skin moisture barrier, which allows irritants to penetrate and hydration to escape. Make sure your skin is well-nourished and moisturized to improve the resilience of sensitive skin. While stepping outdoors, always carry a moisturizer like Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream which can soothe irritated skin56 and provide intense moisture.

Limit outdoor time

Tracking air quality ensures that you can better manage your outdoor time. Go for a walk in the morning when the air is fresh and plan your day and tasks to avoid making multiple trips outside. In addition, don’t forget to apply sunscreen as the harsh rays of the sun paired with the hazardous air quality can make your skin more irritated. This could also lead to stinging and itching.

Look for hypoallergenic products

It is essential to use hypoallergenic products especially if you have sensitive skin in this harsh climate. Using strong products on the skin when it is already irritated may cause more harm than you can imagine. Look for ingredients like Niacinamide, which helps in tackling inflammation and helps in the oil regulation in your skin.

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Originally Appeared Here

James Kon

Drawing from more than 50 years of its expertise in delivering an exceptional breadth of all-terrain capability, refinement and safety, The new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport were recently awarded maximum five-star ratings in the latest Euro NCAP safety tests.

The new models are the latest in a long line of Range Rovers to gain a five-star rating under the stringent Euro NCAP star rating safety protocols introduced in 2009, stretching back to the Evoque in 2011.

Both models are based on a new mixed-metal, flexible Modular Longitudinal Architecture, which provides solid foundations for a suite of state-of-the-art driver assistance technologies to work in harmony for a responsive and refined drive.

New Range Rover, available with four, five and seven-seat configurations, is up to 50 per cent stiffer than its predecessor while the Range Rover Sport is 35 per cent stiffer than before.

The award-winning new Range Rover scored 87 per cent for Child Occupant Protection and 72 per cent for Vulnerable Road Users, while the Range Rover Sport achieved an 85 per cent rating for Adult Occupant Protection. Both SUVs obtained 82 per cent for Safety Assist.

The new Range Rover. PHOTO: INDERA MOTORS

Executive Director of Product Engineering, Jaguar Land Rover Thomas Mueller said, “These excellent Euro NCAP results are a direct result of the hard work and expertise that goes into designing, engineering and manufacturing vehicles that have combined safety, capability and luxury for more than five decades. Our strong, mixed metal MLA-Flex body architecture provides solid foundations for a suite of cutting-edge active safety systems such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) that combined, work in harmony to protect occupants and other road users. These Range Rovers are a technological triumph.”

New Range Rover and Range Rover Sport share a range of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) designed to support the driver and protect occupants that include AEB, Lane Keep Assist, Emergency Lane Keep Assist, 3D Surround Camera and ClearSight Ground View, Driver Condition Response as well as Rear Collision Monitor with Occupant Protection Assist.

The luxury SUVs also are equipped with Pre-emptive suspension, Adaptive Cruise Control Steering Assist and Park Assist.

Alongside the active safety systems, new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport make use of technologies that aim to improve driver alertness and reduce the potential for distraction.

Both vehicles are also available with Cabin Air Purification Pro2, a pioneering system that takes interior air quality to the next level.

Not only does the PM2.5 filtration and Nanoe™-X technology help to significantly reduce odours, bacteria and allergens, but it also enhances wellness and alertness by monitoring CO2 levels inside and automatically introducing fresh external air when required.

High concentrations of CO2 contribute to drowsiness, so the system proactively contributes to optimum driver alertness.

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Originally Appeared Here

Smoke rises from the Hobuck Fire on Thursday near Neah Bay on the Olympic Peninsula. Dry weather and winds drove an uncommon amount of fires for this time of year this week in Western Washington.

National Weather Service

For all the brouhaha over the return of the rainy season in the Pacific Northwest, this November has been unseasonably dry in Western Washington, and the region is feeling the effects.

Dry east winds drove an “uncommon amount” of fires late in the week that personnel with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources have been responding to, and on Saturday, a burn ban was issued until further notice for Greater Pierce County due to stagnant weather and rising air pollution. Forecasters predict that rain is coming early next week, including for Tacoma, but it likely won’t last long.

Kayla Mazurkiewicz, a forecaster at the National Weather Service office in Seattle said Saturday that a weather system coming in Sunday could bring some sprinkles of rain but nothing measurable. There’s more chance for rain Tuesday, including in Tacoma, but then it’s right back to mostly dry days.

“Maybe just some showers on Tuesday but you know, we’re probably going to get back to clear skies Wednesday through Friday,” Mazurkiewicz said.

The fires the Department of Natural Resources is responding to are relatively small. The closest, the Mineral Creek Fire 10 miles southeast of Enumclaw, was just 20 acres in size on Friday. But the fires are out of season. According to the state’s Emergency Management Division, wildfire season typically begins in early July and ends in late September.

From Wednesday to Friday this week, the DNR also responded to several fires on the Olympic Peninsula near Neah Bay and three fires in Southwest Washington, according to a tweet from the department. The fires on the Olympic Peninsula drew 60 personnel, and they are less than 10 acres in size, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association.

Two helicopters and three fire engines were assigned to the Mineral Creek Fire. In the southwest, the Brix Fire, which is 11 miles southeast of Long Beach, was six acres in size on Friday. The Chinook Fire, seven miles southeast of Long Beach, was 35 acres large. And the Footrot Fire, six miles southwest of Randle, was 50 acres in size.

“It’s definitely unusual at this time, especially November,” Mazurkiewicz said.

The stagnant weather conditions that led to the reinstatement of a burn ban Saturday in Greater Pierce County are expected to remain until Sunday evening, according to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. In a press release, the agency said the conditions could lead to air quality reaching moderate levels unhealthy for sensitive groups.

The burn ban does not include Gig Harbor, Key Peninsula, Anderson Island and the south Pierce County communities of Roy, Eatonville and Ashford.

During a Stage 1 burn ban:

• No burning is allowed in wood-burning fireplaces, uncertified wood stoves or fireplace inserts, unless the homeowner has a previously approved “No Other Adequate Source of Heat” exemption from the air agency.
• No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimneys.
• It is OK to use natural gas and propane stoves or inserts during a Stage 1 burn ban.
• Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

This story was originally published November 19, 2022 3:38 PM.

Peter Talbot covers crime and breaking news in Pierce County. He started with The News Tribune in 2021. Before that, he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism at Indiana University. In college, he worked as an intern at NPR in Washington, D.C. He also interned for the Oregonian and the Tampa Bay Times.

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Originally Appeared Here