BTB Photographer/Reporter Nicholas Johnson took the above photos from Burien late Sunday afternoon, showing a huge smoke plume originating from an apparent house fire on Vashon Island.

According to reports, the fire was from a waterfront home, and apparently firefighters had trouble accessing a functioning fire hydrant (sound familiar?). No injuries were reported, and a Tacoma fire boat was dispatched to help fight the blaze.

Put down those matches folks – King County announced Wednesday (July 14) that it will enact a burn ban beginning Thursday, July 15, and running through Sept. 30th.

Here’s the full announcement posted on their website:

Fire marshal calls for burn ban

In concert with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and Pierce, Mason and Snohomish Counties, King County has called a Phase 1 burn ban to take effect at 8 a.m. Thursday, July 15 and will run through Sept. 30. This burn ban applies throughout King County in both the incorporated and unincorporated areas.

Forest and yard debris burning is not allowed under a Phase 1 ban. This burn ban does not apply to federal forests or national parks, although these jurisdictions may have similar restrictions in effect.

This Phase 1 burn ban still allows recreational campfires in approved fire pits. However, campfires and fire pits are allowed only if they are located on private land with the landowner’s permission and if built according to the specifications below. These fires must:

• Be built in a metal or concrete fire pit, such as those typically found in designated campgrounds;
• Grow no larger than three feet across;
• Be located in a clear spot free from any vegetation for at least 10 feet in a horizontal direction, including a 20-foot vertical clearance from overhanging branches; and
• Be attended at all times by an alert individual with immediate access to a shovel and either five gallons of water or a connected and charged water hose.

“With local temperatures rising, we have called this burn ban to protect public health and safety during the summer months,” King County Fire Marshal Jim Chan said, announcing the burn ban. “This ban will be in effect throughout the summer and will be lifted on Sept. 30.”

For more information on local fire restrictions, the public can call the King County Fire Marshal Division at 206-296-6763 or 1-800-323-BURN. To monitor the status of this burn ban, consult the Fire Marshal Website.

Burien’s first-ever “Hookah Bar” has opened – Pyramids Club, at 153 SW 153rd, just west of the E.B. Foote Winery – a membership-only “club” where members can smoke from communal “Hookah” water pipes.

The fact that it’s a private club is why smoking is allowed there, despite the state’s ban on smoking in restaurants and bars. But it’s only Hookah smoking, according to owner Shadi’ – no drugs or alcohol are allowed, members must be at least 18, and strict rules are posted.

Members pay $5 for an annual membership, then order from a menu and share a large, communal water pipe filled with flavored tobacco in a very social, group setting. Current flavors include: Double Apple, Strawberry, Grape, Cherry, Pipe, Guava, Plum, Peach, Coconut, Mint, Lemon, Berry, Banana, Grenadine and Cardamom.

Some snacks, non-alcoholic drinks and games are available, and they also offer free Wi-Fi.

Hookahs are very popular in the Middle East, as well as India, Pakistan, Southeast Asia, South Africa, and more recently in the U.S. and Canada. There are around five other Hookah Clubs in the Seattle area, with Pyramids Club being the first one in the Burien area.

Now if you’ve never heard of Hookah, here’s a brief primer, courtesy Wikipedia:

The Hookah was invented in India in the court of the Mughal emperor Akbar (1542 – 1605 AD). Following popularity among noblemen, this new device for smoking soon became a status symbol for the Indian aristocracy and gentry.

The jar at the bottom of the hookah is filled with water sufficient to submerge a few centimeters of the body tube, which is sealed tightly to it. Flavored tobacco is placed inside the bowl at the top of the hookah and a burning charcoal is placed on top of the tobacco. Some cultures cover the bowl with perforated tin foil or a metal screen to separate the coal and the tobacco, which minimizes inhalation of coal ash with the smoke. This may also reduce the temperature the tobacco is exposed to, in order to prevent burning the tobacco directly.

When one inhales via the hose, air is pulled through the charcoal and into the bowl holding the tobacco. The hot air, heated by the charcoal evaporates (not burns) the tobacco, thus producing smoke, which is passed down through the body tube that extends into the water in the jar. It bubbles up through the water, losing heat, and fills the top part of the jar, to which the hose is attached. When a smoker inhales from the hose, smoke passes into the lungs, and the change in pressure in the jar pulls more air through the charcoal, continuing the process.

There are no drugs involved, and the flavored tobacco mixes have lower amounts of nicotine than regular cigarettes.

The Washington State smoking ban mandates that any smoking establishment be a private club, ergo a membership is required at Pyramids Club.

A yearlong membership to Pyramids is $5, and the minimum age is 18 years old.

Pyramids Club is open Sunday – Thursday from 6:30pm – 12am, and Friday – Saturday from 3pm – 2am.  Their address is 153 SW 153rd, located just west of E.B. Foote Winery. Phone: 206-588-1019; Email: al.shadi@yahoo.com and their website is www.pyramidsclub.net.

Here are some pics taken by Scott Schaefer:

Today is the 34th Anniversary of the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout.

If this gives you pause to quit smoking you should check in with B-Town Blog Advertiser and hypno-coach Patricia Eslava Vessey. Among Patricia’s health and wellness related disciplines is hypno-therapy, specializing smoking cessation. As a former smoker Patricia understands the challenges of becoming a non-smoker.

One of our smoking associates recently attended Patricia’s Freedom from Smoking Stop Smoking Course with Hypno-Coaching at the Burien Parks and Recs. We thought we’d share her apparent success with the program.

BTB: You’ve been smoking for quite some time haven’t you?

SmokeFree in Burien (SFIB): I think I have been smoking off and on since 1968, that’s seven years before the first Great American Smokeout. Back in the days when smoking was oh so cool! You could smoke anywhere and smokes were cheap.

BTB: I understand that you’ve, er,”successfully” quit smoking throughout your adult life for measurable periods of time and then go back to this disgusting and unhealthy habit. Why is that?

SFIB: You never smoked, did you?

BTB: You’ve been tobacco-free since November 4th. That’s over two weeks! Why is Patricia’s technique apparently working when others have failed?

SFIB: First you have to understand the class. You’re sitting among long-time smokers who all want to quit for a variety of reasons. Surprisingly enough, health-related issues ranked far down the list of reasons to become smoke-free. We examined those issues in a robust discussion on our first night; in order of importance, reasons given were:

• Cost. Let’s face it, the day of 25-cent packs went out with free love! One classmate figured she could pay her property tax with the savings.
• Winkles and complexion. Most of the women noted smoking-related wrinkles around the mouth and lips.
• Smell. Let’s face it, this was the only place in Burien that we could all feel comfortable smelling like the bottom of an ashtray!
• Inconvenience. One classmate cited getting in her car and driving away from her plant to smoke on her break, others mentioned standing in the rain; another not having guests into their home for fear they’d know they smoked.
• Respect. Gone are the days when it’s cool to smoke!
• Health.

BTB: Ok, so you agreed on some reasons. What’s next?

SFIB: We actually had to sign a contract “committing to full participation in the class as well as giving ourselves permission to become 100% healthy, and take responsibility for our health and body.” That was pretty compelling. We also got a log to fill out on smoking and a CD to listen to when we needed reinforcement.

BTB: What about the hypnotism? Did it work? How often did you do it?

SFIB: In each class, after discussions on all sorts of things related to smoking and not smoking, we were hypnotized. Yes of course it worked. Through Patricia’s soothing voice we were put into deep relaxation and she talked to our subconscious mind. We did it twice in every class and with the CD and a handout on self-hypnosis we can hypnotize ourselves at home.

BTB: Ok. So you had three sessions – how’d you decide when to quit?

SFIB: We made goals in the first class on cutting back and quitting. I picked November 4th, the last class, as in my conscious mind it gave me three more weeks of smoking, and a date to strive for.

BTB: What was your favorite thing about the class?

SFIB: That’s easy, the visualization or role-playing exercise. With a partner we had to project ourselves into a life at least one year after we quit.  I was swimming a mile a day three times a week at HAC, looking younger and preparing for a long trip to Italy with the $6.00+/day I saved on cigarettes socked away into an Italy-fund.  That was over $2,100 “saved” for our trip. That was powerful. So was the final hypnotism. It lasted for a long time, and she conjured up some powerful images of why we should become and remain smoke-free.

BTB: I don’t smoke, but the concept of hypno-coaching empowering my life through change interests me…can Patricia help me?

SFIB: Well, you’re not overweight, you don’t golf, you don’t have fibromyalgia, you never smoked. But perhaps you could benefit from some life-coaching to help empower you on managing life’s challenges and decisions. As a hypno-coach, Patricia specializes in weight-loss and smoking cessation and she has successfully helped golfers improve their game and fibro patients live pain-free through hypnosis.

BTB: Where can I get in touch with Patricia?

SFIB: You can click on her Ad, or call her at 206-459-2898. She’s also conducting a smoking cessation class and some weight loss classes starting in January at Burien Parks and Rec. Call 206-988-3700 for information or to register.

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