No-Burn Days Ignored; Pollution Worsens

By: Genesis Monserrate

An alert sign with bright, orange lettering captures the attention of drivers in the highway.

This confusing message reads, “No Burn Day”.

An alert that is appearing on large signs on highways and is often reported on television and radio newscasts when meteorologists predict high pollution in the air.

The No-Burn Day, established by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, tells citizens to avoid the use of fire or burning wood, especially on holidays. Methods of burning such as a fireplaces, fire pits, chimneys, and many others have increasingly exceeded over the years.

Due to this high increase, tiny particulate matter has dispersed among the state, causing the air quality in Arizona to worsen.

However, burning not only affects the air quality of our state, but also imposes serious health risks to citizens. Such harmful exposure has caused allergies to increase and has contributed in generating heart and lung problems. Despite the consequences, many residents do not comply with the EDAQ’s regulations, thus causing an increase to the amount of particulate matter in the air.

Because of said complications, the EDAQ has taken action in fining citizens who break the regulation.  As stated by the EDAQ, first-time violators will receive a warning and educational materials, $50 will be fined for the second-time, $100 for the third offense, and $250 for the fourth. The EDAQ makes an exception, however, to residents who require wood burning as the only source of heat for their home.

Despite these measures, however, the amount of pollution in the state has not improved, to the surprise of the EDAQ.  As the valley’s air pollution worsens every year, the no-burn complaints increase simultaneously. From 2008-2011, 1,435 complaints were issued and Maricopa County was not able to address all the complaints.

In addition to affecting the valley, the Grand Canyon, the nation’s most valued national park, is at serious risk due to pollution. The amount of haze has thickened over the years, making it difficult for visitors to even look through the canyon. The Colorado River is also being affected by this matter in the sense that its water is colder, harming the aquatic species and depriving the Grand Canyon from inhabiting in its natural environment.

This issue, which is affecting our state as a whole, needs to be taken seriously.

With approximately six million citizens living in Arizona, the health risks and environmental issues occurring can be prevented. The Environment Protection Agency has slowly but surely taken action to address this issue.

More measures will be taken in the future to decrease the amount of pollution in the air. Officials are planning on enforcing more No-Burn days and have other plans that have yet not been stated.