Arizona Emergency Information Network

Consider delaying travel during snow storms; slow down on slick highways

This weekend may start out with pleasant weather, but drivers should be prepared for slick and potentially hazardous conditions on the state’s highways once a winter storm system starts to bring rain and snow to Arizona in the coming days. 

The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to avoid traveling during any severe winter storm conditions. Motorists should stay up to date on forecasts from the National Weather Service and plan their travel accordingly. That includes delaying travel when highways are snow packed or icy.

Weather forecasts call for snow and rain to start falling across the state by Saturday night and continue into next week. Drivers in lower elevations should plan for possible rain and wet roadways at times into early next week. People heading to the high country should be aware that plans for returning home could be impacted by winter weather.

ADOT and law enforcement agencies remind travelers not to stop next to highways, including I-17, I-40, US 180, SR 260 or others, to play in the snow. Doing so is unsafe. People should instead go to established snow play areas. Parking along highway shoulders for snow play is not allowed, since that can block areas that emergency response vehicles may need to use.      

Safer conditions will exist in upper elevation areas once ADOT snowplow crews have a chance to clear snow and ice from highways impacted by any winter storms. Here are some winter and wet weather safety recommendations:

• Slow down and leave extra room: Adjust your speed to conditions. Slowing down and leaving space between your vehicle and vehicles ahead of you on icy or wet roads can prevent crashes or keep your vehicle from skidding when conditions are slippery.
   
• Tire Chains: Drivers also should anticipate that, depending on the severity of winter storm conditions, chains and/or four-wheel drive vehicle capability are likely to be recommended on some highways impacted by snow or ice.
   
• Leave prepared: Dress for cold weather if traveling into the high country. Bring extra clothes and gloves as part of an emergency prep kit in case you need to stop along a highway. Be sure your cellphone is charged and pack extra drinking water, food and prescription medications (in case you encounter delays).
   
• Other items for an emergency kit: Blankets, flashlight, ice scraper, small shovel, container with sand or kitty litter for tire traction if your vehicle is stuck in icy conditions. ADOT has a complete list of items at azdot.gov/KnowSnow (look for “Must haves for every vehicle”).

In addition to following National Weather Service forecasts (weather.gov/fgz/WinterWeather), drivers can visit ADOT’s Traveler Information site at az511.gov or call 511 for highway conditions. Pay attention to messages on ADOT’s network of electronic signs. ADOT’s Twitter feed (@ArizonaDOT) and Facebook page (facebook.com/AZDOT) also provide information and answers about highway conditions.

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Fire specialists are planning several pile burns on the Tonto Basin Ranger District, Jan. 19, 2023.

Burn operations will occur at the Indian Point Community Green Waste site, as well as one pile burn at Burnt Corral Campground located at Forest Service Road 49 and State Route 88, and one pile at the Crabtree Wash Pit near Apache Lake Marina. Pile burns range from 1 acre to a quarter of an acre in size.

Smoke is anticipated to be moderate during ignitions and is expected to disperse by the late afternoon with minimal impacts to Arizona State Routes 88 and 188, the community of Tonto Basin and the Apache Lake Marina Resort. Ignitions will be completed by noon. Nighttime smoke should be minimal and may impact the community of Tonto Basin, Punkin Center and potentially the Apache Lake Marina Resort. 

The Forest Service will post signs on roads likely to be affected by smoke. Officials urge motorists to use caution while driving through these areas and to slow down for the safety of firefighters and the public. 

For news and information about the Tonto National Forest, follow us on Facebook @TontoNationalForest or Twitter @TontoForest.

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As part of continuing efforts to reduce hazardous fuels and prevent catastrophic wildfires, Kaibab National Forest firefighters are planning to conduct pile burns on about 700 acres near Williams on Friday. These piles are located near Clover Road and along I-40, and weather conditions are expected to result in some smoke impacts on the highway and in town.

“We appreciate everyone’s understanding as we work to make the Kaibab more fire-resilient, and protect local communities from the threat of wildfire,” Williams District Ranger Debra Mollet said. “Every pile we burn represents tons of fuel that will not be available to drive future destructive wildfires.”

There are no formal area closures, but the public is asked to avoid areas of the forest where firefighters are actively burning piles. Keep an eye out for signs advising of prescribed fire activity, and be sure to drive with extra caution wherever firefighters are working or where smoke is present.

Thinning and pile burning reduces the buildup of hazardous fuels in the forest. Mechanized equipment and hand logging techniques are used to cut and pile brush, saplings, and small trees. When fuel and weather conditions permit safe burning, firefighters will then ignite the piles. All prescribed burning is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. For more information or to review prescribed burn authorizations, visit https://smoke.azdeq.gov.

Additional fire information for the Kaibab National Forest can be obtained through the following sources:

Fire Information Recorded Hotline: 928-635-8311

Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF

Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF

Depending on weather conditions, Lake Mead National Recreation Area is planning to burn piles of previously cut vegetation as part of a hazardous fuel reduction measure in two different locations the week of January 16, 2023 in the western Lake Mead area.  

The first project, located in the old Hemenway Campground, will complete approximately 7-acres of piles accumulated from hazardous fuels projects from the Boulder Beach Area. This project will be visible to travelers on Lakeshore Road, Boulder City, Lake Las Vegas, residents and visitors at Lake Mead RV Village, Alan Bible Visitor Center, Boulder Beach Campground, and surrounding areas near Boulder Beach. It is planned to start on January 17 and be completed in one day.   

The second project, Rogers Spring, is located just off Northshore Road three miles west of Stewart’s Point and about 9 miles north of Echo Bay. The Rogers Spring Project will treat approximately 3-acres of dried vegetation piles remaining from a habitat restoration project by the park’s Resources Management team. By burning them in place, the park is reducing the risk from unwanted human caused fires in this unique habitat area and allowing the nutrients to naturally cycle back into the ecosystem. 

The Rogers Spring Parking Area will be closed from 6:00 a.m. January 18, 2023, through 5:00 pm January 19, 2023 as a safety measure for visitors. Additionally, smoke may be visible to travelers on Northshore Road and visitors to the northern section of the park. 

Visitors may see smoke, active fire, and firefighters during these burns, and are asked to drive slowly and follow all firefighter instructions. Smoke impacts are expected to be minimal and short-lived. The public can learn more about air quality and smoke by visiting fire.airnow.gov

Rogers Prescribed Burn - NPS Photo2.JPG PHOTO CAPTION: Lake Mead National Recreation Area firefighters utilize special tools and training to efficiently remove dead plants to reduce the risk of unwanted fire at Rogers Spring. 

Tonto National Forest fire officials are planning to burn pits near Pine and the Payson Helibase, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023.

The Pine pit is located southeast of the community of Pine, east of State Route 87 and south of Forest Road 64. Pits near the Helibase are located east of Payson off State Route 260. 

Fire specialists will be burning pits containing brush and woody material gathered from the surrounding areas. Clearing these dry fuels from the forest floor to burn, reduces the risk of wildfires to communities and creates a fire resilient landscape.

Experienced fire and fuels specialists on the Tonto National Forest build prescribed fire plans using the most up-to-date science and modeling along with their combined on the ground fire and fuels experience. 

There will be minimal smoke impacts to Pine, the Control Road, Star Valley, and Diamond Point Shadows areas. Residual smoke may be present for several days as the pits burn down. 

Affected communities should remain aware of smoke advisories and conditions. Learn more about smoke impacts on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality website.

For the latest news and information about the Tonto National Forest, follow us on Facebook @TontoNationalForest or Twitter @TontoForest.

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Fire Managers on the Bradshaw Ranger District plan to take advantage of the moisture received and burn piles of debris in and around the Prescott Basin. Ignitions are planned to start on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, and continue through Tuesday Jan. 31, 2023, as favorable weather conditions allow. Fire managers expect smoke impacts to be light and visible from multiple locations including Prescott, Chino Valley, and surrounding areas. Pile burning helps to reduce hazardous fuels in the wildland urban interface and increases ecosystem and community resilience.

In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to obey all traffic signs and use caution when traveling in the vicinity of the prescribed burn as firefighters and fire-related traffic will be in the area.

The purpose of this project is to reduce hazardous fuels following thinning and fuelwood removal activities. Reducing hazardous fuels will help reduce the threat of high-severity, high-intensity wildfire to the public, adjacent private property, and communities. Burning of debris left over from brush crush and thinning projects requires moisture in the surrounding vegetation and typically produces much lighter smoke than broadcast burning.

All prescribed fire activity is dependent on the availability of personnel and equipment, weather, fuels and conditions that minimize smoke impacts as much as possible, and approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (www.azdeq.gov).

Messages will be posted on social media when managed fires are ignited on the Prescott National Forest:

·         Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF/

·         Twitter https://twitter.com/PrescottNF

For fire information please call Prescott National Forest Fire Information at (928) 925-1111; or stay up to date on Prescott National Forest news by checking the Prescott NF website and following us on Facebook and Twitter.

Fire Managers on the Bradshaw Ranger District plan to take advantage of the moisture received and burn piles of debris in and around the Prescott Basin. Ignitions are planned to start on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, and continue through Tuesday Jan. 31, 2023, as favorable weather conditions allow. Fire managers expect smoke impacts to be light and visible from multiple locations including Prescott, Chino Valley, and surrounding areas. Pile burning helps to reduce hazardous fuels in the wildland urban interface and increases ecosystem and community resilience.

In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to obey all traffic signs and use caution when traveling in the vicinity of the prescribed burn as firefighters and fire-related traffic will be in the area.

The purpose of this project is to reduce hazardous fuels following thinning and fuelwood removal activities. Reducing hazardous fuels will help reduce the threat of high-severity, high-intensity wildfire to the public, adjacent private property, and communities. Burning of debris left over from brush crush and thinning projects requires moisture in the surrounding vegetation and typically produces much lighter smoke than broadcast burning.

All prescribed fire activity is dependent on the availability of personnel and equipment, weather, fuels and conditions that minimize smoke impacts as much as possible, and approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (www.azdeq.gov).

Messages will be posted on social media when managed fires are ignited on the Prescott National Forest:

·         Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF/

·         Twitter https://twitter.com/PrescottNF

For fire information please call Prescott National Forest Fire Information at (928) 925-1111; or stay up to date on Prescott National Forest news by checking the Prescott NF website and following us on Facebook and Twitter.

The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests is currently working to begin multiple prescribed burn operations this week. The following prescribed fires will be initiated if conditions and approvals allow:

Black Mesa Ranger District

• Black Mesa West / Hidden Piles – Location: north and west of Highway 260 and south and east of the powerline access road. Total Acres: 15.
• Black Mesa Admin Piles – Location: half mile south of Heber-Overgaard West of FR 50 on the Black Mesa Administrative site. Total Acres: 15.
• Chevlon Work Center Piles – Location: 15 miles NNW of the community of Forest Lakes, West of FR 34. Total Acres: 1.

Springerville Ranger District

• West Escudilla Jackpot – Location: West of New Mexico State line, North of the community of Nutrioso and east of State Highway 191. Total Acres: 170.

Our land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape. Prescribed fires provide habitat diversity, recycles plant nutrients into the soil, and encourages new growth for various plants used by wildlife and livestock. They also reduce forest surface fuels which lessens the threat of large-scale wildfire impacts on private lands and communities.

Smoke will be a consideration in the vicinity of the prescribed burns depending on the weather and caution should be used when traveling in the area. Information on air quality and active prescribed burns can be found on Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s webpage: https://azdeq.gov/.

Stay up to date on news from the A-S at our website https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf, on Twitter @A_SNFs and on facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs.

 

The Flagstaff Ranger District plans to conduct pile burns in three different areas of the Coconino National Forest starting today and running through Friday.

A1 burn project: 50-300 acres of machine piles.

Horse Park burn project: Roughly 350 acres of machine piles.

Dry Lake Hills burn project: Between 30 and 100 acres of both hand and machine piles will be burned as part of the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project (FWPP).

Smoke may be visible from Bellemont, west Flagstaff, Interstate 17, Interstate 40 and Highway 180. Smoke may settle in the Lake Mary Road corridor overnight.

There are no anticipated road or trail closures due to any of the pile burn projects. Please refrain from calling dispatch lines if you see smoke from these pile burns so lines can remain open for any emergencies.

Large piles need to be burned when conditions are wet or while snow is on the ground to allow for greater control. Fire managers make every effort to effectively plan and execute burn plans at times when weather allows for smoke impacts to be minimized and transport up and over communities.

For more information about prescribed burns, please visit our Prescribed Fires and Smoke web page or view the video Keeping Fire on the Ground.

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The Bureau of Land Management’s Phoenix District is planning a prescribed fire to burn cut and piled brush from about 80 acres of land northeast of Apache Junction. Fire personnel will burn on BLM lands surrounding State Route 88 near Hackamore Road and the Goldfield Ghost Town. Burning may occur over multiple days between January and March as conditions allow.  

To ensure public safety, BLM firefighters will ignite the piles only when weather conditions are conducive to safely burning. They will remain on scene to monitor public and resource safety. Area residents may see some light smoke during the burn operation. No local road closures are expected.  

Last year, the BLM collaborated with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management to reduce hazardous vegetation in the area. Removing this vegetation helps to reduce the amount of fuel available for a wildfire and protect the adjacent community, as well as provide safer conditions for fire suppression.  

Funding for this prescribed burn came from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021. The legislation provides funds for fuel treatments to help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and benefit neighboring communities. 

For more information, contact Public Affairs Specialist, Chris Wonderly, at 623-580-5520, or [email protected].

The Bureau of Land Management’s Phoenix District is planning prescribed burning operations to burn cut and piled brush from public lands in Yavapai and Maricopa counties. Burning may occur over multiple days between January and March as conditions allow.  

In Yavapai County, BLM fire personnel will burn 200 acres of cut and piled juniper brush along the Indian Creek drainage in the Agua Fria National Monument, about six miles east of Cordes Lakes. They will also burn 39 acres of juniper piles about three miles east of Skull Valley. In Maricopa County, crews will burn a one-acre pile on the east side of Lake Pleasant, about three miles north of State Route 74.   

To ensure public safety, BLM firefighters will ignite the piles only when weather conditions are conducive to safely burning. They will remain on scene to monitor public and resource safety. Area residents may see some light smoke during the burn operation. No local road closures are expected.  

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 provided funding for this prescribed burn. The legislation funds fuel treatments to help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and benefit neighboring communities. Thinning and burning juniper that has encroached into grasslands also helps open wildlife corridors, reduce predator cover, and improve wildlife forage. 

For more information, contact Public Affairs Specialist, Chris Wonderly, at 623-580-5520, or [email protected]. 

With recent winter storms providing extensive snow cover across much of the Kaibab National Forest, firefighters are taking advantage of prime conditions to reduce hazardous fuels on the landscape. Over the coming weeks, Forest Service firefighters will ignite piles of thinned trees and brush in several locations on both the North and South zones of the Kaibab.

On the South Zone, firefighters are planning to focus on the Parks West area near Spitz Hill this week, before shifting to the Saddle piles adjacent to Parks – a total of 1,000 acres of piles resulting from mechanical thinning work completed last year. In the Williams area, firefighters will look to burn 3,000 acres of machine piles near Bill Williams Mountain, Dogtown Reservoir, and Clover Road. Residents and visitors may see and smell smoke, but impacts are expected to be minimal.

On the North Zone, firefighters will be looking to burn about 931 acres of machine piles east of Jacob Lake along Arizona 89A. Depending on weather conditions, these ignitions could take place anytime in the next two weeks. There may be periodic light smoke impacts to the highway.

If you’re planning to visit the forest, please avoid areas where firefighters are actively burning piles. Watch for signs advising of prescribed fire activity and drive with extra caution when firefighters are working nearby.

Thinning and pile burning is a low-risk means of reducing the buildup of hazardous fuels in the forest. Mechanized equipment and hand logging techniques are used to cut and pile brush, saplings, and small trees. When fuel and weather conditions permit safe burning, firefighters will then ignite the piles.

All prescribed burning is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. For more information or to review prescribed burn authorizations, visit https://smoke.azdeq.gov.

Additional fire information for the Kaibab National Forest can be obtained through the following sources:

• Fire Information Recorded Hotline: 928-635-8311
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF
• Kaibab Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF

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The Flagstaff Ranger District is planning to conduct pile burns approximately 4 miles north of Munds Park along Forest Road 700 beginning tomorrow through Friday.

The Horse Park project will burn about 350 acres worth of piled woody material remaining from mechanical treatments. Southwest winds are predicted to move smoke northeast toward the Lake Mary area and may settle in the local area in the evening. No closures or restrictions are anticipated with these pile burns.

Large piles need to be burned when conditions are wet or while snow is on the ground to allow for greater control. Fire managers make every effort to effectively plan and execute burn plans at times when weather allows for smoke impacts to be minimized and transport up and over communities. For more information about prescribed burns, please visit our Prescribed Fires and Smoke web page or view the video Keeping Fire on the Ground.

The Black Mesa Ranger District on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests is planning to proceed with prescribed pile burning in the vicinity of Hwy 260 approximately 3 miles west of the community of Forest Lakes and adjacent to Willow Springs Lake.  The project boundaries are north and west of Highway 260 and south and east of the powerline access road. The burn is expected to be conducted between January 5 and 13, depending on weather conditions.

Smoke will be a consideration in the vicinity of the prescribed burns depending on the weather and caution should be used when traveling in the area. Information on air quality and active prescribed burns can be found on Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s webpage: https://azdeq.gov/. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures.

Our land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape. Prescribed fires provide habitat diversity, recycles plant nutrients into the soil, and encourages new growth for various plants used by wildlife and livestock. They also reduce forest surface fuels which lessens the threat of large-scale wildfire impacts on private lands and communities.

The public can obtain additional information by calling the Black Mesa Ranger District at (928) 535-7300.

The Black Mesa Ranger District on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests is planning to proceed with prescribed pile burning in the vicinity of Hwy 260 approximately 3 miles west of the community of Forest Lakes and adjacent to Willow Springs Lake.  The project boundaries are north and west of Highway 260 and south and east of the powerline access road. The burn is expected to be conducted between January 6th and 13th, depending on weather conditions.

Smoke will be a consideration in the vicinity of the prescribed burns depending on the weather and caution should be used when traveling in the area. Information on air quality and active prescribed burns can be found on Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s webpage: https://azdeq.gov/. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures.

Our land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape. Prescribed fires provide habitat diversity, recycles plant nutrients into the soil, and encourages new growth for various plants used by wildlife and livestock. They also reduce forest surface fuels which lessens the threat of large-scale wildfire impacts on private lands and communities.

The public can obtain additional information by calling the Black Mesa Ranger District at (928) 535-7300.

Stay up to date on forest news at our website https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf, on Twitter @A_SNFs and on facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs.

As the holiday travel season continues, drivers should be prepared for slick conditions on the state’s highways, as winter storms bring rain and snow to Arizona over the next several days. 

The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to avoid traveling during any severe winter storm conditions. Motorists should stay up to date on forecasts from the National Weather Service and plan their travel accordingly.

Periods of snow and rain are forecast across the state into the New Year’s weekend. Drivers in lower elevations should plan for possible rain and wet roadways at times over the next several days. 

Safer conditions will exist in the state’s high country once ADOT snowplow crews have a chance to clear snow and ice from highways impacted by any winter storms. Here are some winter and wet weather safety recommendations:

• Slow down and leave extra room: Adjust your speed to conditions. Slowing down and leaving space between your vehicle and vehicles ahead of you on icy or wet roads can prevent crashes or keep your vehicle from skidding when conditions are slippery.
• Leave prepared: Dress for cold weather if traveling into the high country. Bring extra clothes and gloves as part of an emergency prep kit in case you need to stop along a highway. Be sure your cellphone is charged and pack extra drinking water, food and prescription medications (in case you encounter delays).
• Other items for an emergency kit: Blankets, flashlight, ice scraper, small shovel, container with sand or kitty litter for tire traction if your vehicle is stuck in icy conditions. ADOT has a complete list of items at azdot.gov/KnowSnow (look for “Must haves for every vehicle”).
• Stay up to date: In addition to following National Weather Service forecasts, drivers can visit ADOT’s Traveler Information site at az511.gov or call 511 for highway conditions. Pay attention to messages on ADOT’s network of electronic signs. ADOT’s Twitter feed (@ArizonaDOT) and Facebook page (facebook.com/AZDOT) also provide information and answers about highway conditions. 

To assist travelers this winter, ADOT has partnered with the National Weather Service to create color-coded graphics of forecast storm severity. ADOT uses these graphics on its social media accounts to help drivers know the anticipated intensity of a snowstorm and make informed decisions about traveling.    

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The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has issued a PM-2.5 High Pollution Advisory for Friday, December 23 to Sunday, December 25.

Children, the elderly, and people with heart and/ or lung disease should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.

Restrictions

• Wood burning in residential fireplaces, chimeneas, outdoor fire pits and similar outdoor fires is prohibited. This includes individuals and businesses which have burn permits for open burning.
• Employees and contractors of government entities are prohibited from operating leaf blowers. Residents are encouraged to avoid leaf blowing during HPAs.
• Off-road vehicles are prohibited from being used during the HPA.

Take Action

• Eliminate wood burning in fireplaces, stoves, chimeneas, and outdoor fire pits.
• Convert your wood burning fireplace to natural gas or propane. Check if you are eligible to receive up to $2,000 to upgrade your fireplace to natural gas by visiting CleanAirMakeMore.com/fireplace.
• Drive as little as possible: carpool, use public transit, or telecommute. For information on transportation alternatives, visit www.ShareTheRide.com.
• Avoid using leaf blowers. Use a rake or broom to keep debris out of the road and away from storm drains, ditches, and streams.
• Use electric lawn and garden equipment. Check if you are eligible to receive up to $200 to replace gasoline powered lawn equipment by visiting CleanAirMakeMore.com/lawn.
• Reduce your time waiting in long drive-thru lines. For example, at coffee shops, fast-food restaurants, or banks. Park your vehicle and go inside.
• Fuel your vehicle after dark or during cooler evening hours.
• Use low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) or water-based paints, stains, finishes and paint strippers.
• Delay big painting projects until HPAs have passed.
• Make sure containers of household cleaners, garage and yard chemicals and other solvents are sealed properly to prevent vapors from evaporating into the air.

Transportation Coordinators

Due to unhealthy levels of particulate matter, Maricopa County Air Quality Department requests all Transportation Coordinators to email employees and activate your HPA plans. The department encourages the use of alternative modes of transportation, especially when pollution levels are expected to be on the rise.

PM-2.5 stands for particulate matter measuring 2.5 microns or less. State and county agencies measure PM-10 and PM-2.5 which are extremely small solid particles and liquid droplets found circulating in the air. PM, or particulate matter, comes from either combustion (cars, industry, woodburning) or dust stirred up into the air. High levels of PM are typically created when the air is especially stagnant.

"High Pollution Advisory" or "HPA" means the highest concentration of pollution may exceed the federal health standard. Active children, adults and people with lung disease such as asthma should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. Maricopa County employers enlisted in the Travel Reduction Program are asked to activate their HPA plans on high pollution advisory days.

 

The Maricopa County Air Quality Department has declared a No Burn Day for Monday, December 19 due to elevated levels of PM-2.5 (smoke). 

Restrictions

• Wood burning in residential fireplaces, chimeneas, outdoor fire pits, and similar outdoor fires is prohibited in Maricopa County. This includes individuals and businesses which have burn permits for open burning.
• Employees and contractors of government entities are prohibited from operating leaf blowers. Residents are encouraged to avoid leaf blowing during HPAs.
• Off-road vehicle use should be avoided during HPAs.

Take Action

• Eliminate wood burning in fireplaces, stoves, chimeneas, and outdoor fire pits.
• Convert your wood burning fireplace to natural gas or propane. Check if you are eligible to receive up to $2,000 to upgrade your fireplace to natural gas by visiting CleanAirMakeMore.com/fireplace.
• Avoid using leaf blowers. Use a rake or broom to keep debris out of the road and away from storm drains, ditches, and streams.
• Use electric lawn and garden equipment. Check if you are eligible to receive up to $200 to replace gasoline powered lawn equipment by visiting CleanAirMakeMore.com/lawn.
• Drive as little as possible: carpool, use public transit, or telecommute. For information on transportation alternatives, visit ShareTheRide.com.
• Reduce your time waiting in long drive-thru lines. For example, at coffee shops, fast-food restaurants, or banks. Park your vehicle and go inside.
• Fuel your vehicle after dark or during cooler evening hours.
• Use low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) or water-based paints, stains, finishes, and paint strippers.
• Make sure containers of household cleaners, garage and yard chemicals, and other solvents are sealed properly to prevent vapors from evaporating into the air.