Maricopa County urges residents to follow restrictions on no-burn days

The Maricopa County Air Quality Department declared no-burn days on Saturday, Sunday and Monday — and more warnings are likely in the weeks ahead.

Harmful smoke from wood burning fireplaces and dust tend to get trapped in the Valley in winter. Cooler weather causes a pressure change that keeps particulate matter lower to the ground where it can be inhaled.

“Our valley is kind of shaped like a bowl, so this different change of temperature causes air pollution to remain near the surface and it doesn’t allow it to escape, meaning we’re breathing the same air over and over until this temperature inversion breaks,” said Maricopa County Air Quality Department spokesperson Ari Halpert.

Halpert said particulates can worsen respiratory issues like asthma or bronchitis.

“They also carry toxins that can reach our bloodstream and exacerbate or pose a danger to our cardiac health,” Halpert said.

Burning wood in fireplaces or outdoor fire pits is prohibited and can carry a penalty on no-burn days. The Air Quality Department also discourages residents from using leaf blowers or off-road vehicles on these days.

Residents can sign up for alerts about air quality through the department’s website, or keep up to date on its Clean Air app.

For some qualifying residents, the department offers up to $2,000 to cover the costs of converting wood burning fireplaces to gas models.