PHOENIX (AP) - For the second straight year, people in metropolitan Phoenix will be able to legally use their wood-burning fireplaces on Christmas day.
Even so, environmental regulators are asking people to use moderation in their use of fireplaces.
They say even though the metro area isn’t expected to exceed federal health standards Sunday, smoke and soot from wood-burning still pose risks to people with asthma and other respiratory ailments.
No-burn restrictions are ordered when stagnant air and winter inversions trap pollution close to the ground.
Last year, wood-burning was allowed on Christmas day for the first time in seven years, but the county ended up exceeding federal air quality standards that day.
It’s not yet known whether no-burn restrictions will be issued for New Year’s Day.
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