As families gather in homes across the Vegas Valley this holiday season—specifically Dec. 24 and 25—Clark County’s Department of Environment & Sustainability (DES) is asking people with wood-burning fireplaces, fire pits and stoves to Put Out the Fire!
Clark County registered exceedances of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s health-based standard for PM2.5 (particulate matter) on Dec. 25 in four of the past eight years: 2017, 2020, 2022 and 2023. Over the same period, the region exceeded the PM2.5 standard on Christmas Eve in 2017, 2020 and 2022. The culprit: increased wood-burning throughout the region. According to Ted Lendis, planning manager for the Division of Air Quality within DES, those exceedance days can lead to federal restrictions if they keep adding up.
“Reducing air pollution regardless of the source is essential to helping our community avoid unhealthy air,” said Lendis. “Vehicle emissions and weather patterns play a role, but our research has indicated wood burning within Clark County is a major contributor. That’s why we’re asking people who have wood-burning fireplaces and outdoor firepits to consider cleaner options when possible.”
Avoiding the Christmas Day Exceedance
Last year, Clark County broke the streak of consecutive Christmas Day exceedances for PM2.5 at two (2022 – 23). The Division of Air Quality hasn’t recorded a PM2.5 exceedance since Jan. 1, which was due to fireworks smoke. Lendis is hopeful the region can establish a new streak of “clean” Christmas Days with a little help from locals.
“We can thank people who helped us last year by taking the pledge to not burn wood,” said Lendis. “Their efforts helped us break the streak. Now, let’s start a new streak of clean-air Christmas Days.”
Take the Pledge, Win an Electric Fireplace
In lieu of putting another log on the fire, DAQ is encouraging people to eschew wood-burning and take the Put Out the Fire Pledge. Everyone who signs the pledge is automatically entered into a drawing to win an electric fireplace, courtesy of the American Lung Association Nevada.
“Burn Wise” Habits When Burning Wood
- Use dry, seasoned wood for fires. Don’t burn wet, coated, painted and pressure-treated wood.
- If you use manufactured logs, choose those made from 100 percent compressed sawdust.
- Don’t use gasoline, kerosene or lighter fluid to start a fire.
- Don’t burn trash, cardboard, plastics, wrapping paper, magazines or foam.
- Keep a fire extinguisher handy.
- For more tips, go to DAQ’s Burn Wise page.
What is Particulate Matter
A criteria pollutant according to the EPA, particulate matter is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Dust, smoke, dirt and soot make up particulate matter. DAQ monitors and regulates particulate pollution in two sizes:
- PM10: inhalable particulates, such as dust.
- PM2.5: smaller inhalable particles, such as smoke and soot.
“Imagine how much cleaner our air can be if we all do just a little bit: maybe drive less, or burn one less log in the fire, or recycle the cardboard and paper instead of burning it,” said Deborah Thompson, director of the American Lung Association Nevada. “We all breathe the same air. If we all work together this holiday season, clean air is the gift we give to each other!”
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Located in Clark County, Nevada, the Department of Environment and Sustainability (DES) is the region’s air pollution control agency. DES also administers the Desert Conservation Program and leads the All-In Clark County initiative to address climate impacts in Southern Nevada. Whether it’s protecting the air we share, protecting species like the desert tortoise or making home and vehicle electrification easier for residents, our team is united by our shared passion to create a cleaner, healthier, more sustainable Southern Nevada.
Clark County is a dynamic and innovative organization dedicated to providing top-quality service with integrity, respect and accountability. With jurisdiction over the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and covering an area the size of New Jersey, Clark is the nation’s 11th-largest county and provides extensive regional services to 2.4 million citizens and 45.6 million visitors a year (2023). Included are the nation’s 5th-busiest airport, air quality compliance, social services and the state’s largest public hospital, University Medical Center. The County also provides municipal services that are traditionally provided by cities to 1 million residents in the unincorporated area. Those include fire protection, roads and other public works, parks and recreation, and planning and development.