County and state officials are notifying the public that they should expect a wood burning ban for the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays.

Officials from the Maricopa County Air Quality Department and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality have announced a new campaign to emphasize the “No Burn Day? Don’t Burn Wood!” regulations for Maricopa County.

Wood-burning fireplaces and chimineas often are the primary culprits in creating quantities of smoke during the winter — most commonly during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day – that violate state and federal health standards.

During the winter months temperature inversions can trap air at the surface for days, allowing for a build-up of smoke and dust particles that can have serious implications for those with respiratory ailments.

These conditions pose a serious health threat to children with asthma, the elderly and those with respiratory issues.

The particles can be absorbed into the blood stream and decrease lung function, exacerbate bronchitis and asthma and increase chances for heart attacks and premature death.

Another concern is if the PM2.5 (smoke) problem is not corrected, Maricopa County will fall out of attainment with federal health standards, which means more burdensome and costly regulations and the potential for the federal government to implement its own plan.

At a recent press briefing at the State Capitol attended by a number of legislative, public health and municipal officials, ADEQ Air Quality Division Director Eric Massey said that the problem is related to communication, which can be controlled.

“The high concentrations that we experience during the holidays are the direct result of all the wood burning that happens throughout the community,” Massey said.

“While we commonly call for no burn days during the holidays, we tend to call them at the last minute.

“This means many people already have plans or don’t know that they shouldn’t burn.”

Maricopa County Air Quality Department Director Bill Wiley agreed and pointed to the added benefit that voluntary compliance brings.

“The two most common complaints I hear about no burn days are that the government is being a Grinch and that we should keep the federal government out of our affairs,” Wiley said.

“The spirit of the season compels us to remember our neighbors and the impacts that our actions have on others.

“In addition, without voluntary compliance, the EPA will have to get involved.”

Residents can find a number of ways to get easy access to the most current information related to air quality restrictions.

Visit the county’s cleanairmakemore.com web site to sign up for email or text alerts or download the clean air app to a cell phone or tablet.

The air quality restrictions also affect the use of off-highway vehicles or gas-powered equipment like leaf blowers.