Air quality levels have prompted the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to issue a health watch Saturday and Sunday for fine particulate matter pollution. As a result, the Maricopa County Air Quality Department will issue No Burn Day restrictions. Restrictions include a ban on woodburning activity including fireplaces, fire pits or open outdoor burning. This includes the use of manufactured or wax logs and impacts residents and businesses.
Air quality forecasters said cold nights, moderate-to-strong inversions, and relatively low mixing heights are expected through early next week. Air monitoring stations have recorded elevated PM-2.5 levels over last couple of days and forecasters predict those pollution concentrations will continue to rise.
Particulate matter pollution are extremely small solid particles and liquid droplets found circulating in the air, created from either combustion (cars, industry, woodburning) or dust stirred up into the air.
