Rejoice, the burn ban has been lifted!

Well, at least in 40 minutes, at 1 p.m., Jan. 16 it will officially be over according to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. It will continue on in Snohomish and Pierce County (in case you folks are reading the Ballard paper).

"We're lifting the ban in King County because air pollution levels there have improved," said Dr. Phil Swartzendruber, agency forecaster. "Based on historic patterns, it’s unlikely they’ll reach trigger levels in the next few days."

So while we don't condone going fire crazy (wood smoke can still pollutes skies significantly), this does mean that you can snuzzle up next to a fire as you watch the sunset at Golden Gardens. Finally.

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