Maricopa County bans wood burning through Christmas

PHOENIX – From Saturday until Christmas, Maricopa County has banned wood burning due to poor air quality.

Bill Gates, vice chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, understands it’s unpopular.

“We definitely don’t like to be Scrooge, but it’s important because we do all breathe the air here,” he said Friday at a West Valley air monitoring station.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality issued a health watch for Saturday and a high pollution advisory for Saturday through Tuesday.

Weekend High Pollution Advisory: The AZ Dept. of Environmental Quality has issued a High Pollution Advisory for Sunday, 12/23/18. As a result, Maricopa County has issued No Burn Day restrictions. Those with respiratory illness, should restrict their outdoor activities. pic.twitter.com/8MEcf4HFHU

— MAG (@MAGregion) December 21, 2018

The Air Quality Department will deploy agents on the lookout for smoking chimneys and fire pits, even on the holiday. Fines start at $250.

As alternatives to burning wood, “People can still have propane fires, both inside their houses and fire pits outside,” Gates said.

Gates says no wood burning, except as a sole heating source, means the gift of cleaner air for sensitive groups, including children.

The use of off-road vehicles is also restricted during the no-burn days, and leaf blowers can’t be used on governmental properties.

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