JULY 27, 2011

Fire restriction changes from State Forestry Division

Some of the fire restrictions imposed earlier this summer by the Arizona State Forester have been lifted due to lessening fire danger from recent precipitation and other favorable weather conditions. 

However, citizens are reminded fire season is not yet over in Arizona. In areas where fire restrictions have been lifted citizens are being asked to continue to practice caution such as fully extinguishing campfires and to remember that cigarettes or anything with a flame or spark may start a fire.

Areas where restrictions have been lifted on state-owned lands:
Apache County:  Entire County
Cochise County:  Entire County
Coconino County:  Entire County except
     for state-owned lands north of the
     Colorado River (Arizona Strip)
Gila County: Entire County
Graham County: Entire County
Greenlee County:  Entire County
Maricopa County:  Entire County
Navajo County:  Entire County
Pima County:  Entire County
Pinal County:  Entire County
Santa Cruz:  Entire County
Yavapai County:  Entire County

Fireworks remain prohibited on state-owned lands unless authorized by individual state agency.

Fire, smoking, and fireworks restrictions will remain in place on state-owned lands in western and northwestern portions of Arizona due to very high to extreme fire danger to prevent human caused wildfires and protect public health and safety: 
Yuma County:  Entire County
La Paz County: Entire County
Mohave County: Entire County
Coconino County:  State-owned lands north of the Colorado River (Arizona Strip)

In counties where restrictions remain in effect, the restrictions apply to the following state-owned lands:
All State Trust Lands outside incorporated municipalities
All Game and Fish Wildlife Areas outside incorporated municipalities
All State Parks outside incorporated municipalities
All Department of Transportation highway right-of-way property outside incorporated municipalities not owned by federal land management agencies

The restrictions are as follows:
Building, maintaining or using a fire, campfire, or charcoal burning device is prohibited. (Campfires or charcoal burning devices within developed campgrounds, petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns, or heating devices are exempt from these restrictions.);  
Smoking is prohibited unless: it is within an enclosed vehicle, building, developed campground, or in an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials;
Welding or operating acetylene or other torch device with an open flame is prohibited;
The use of consumer fireworks, display fireworks, fireworks, and permissible consumer fireworks as defined in ARS 36-1601 is prohibited;
If local agencies have imposed stronger restrictions than above, those restrictions shall apply;
All exemptions to these restrictions must be approved by the State Forester.