Fire restrictions in place for 10 Arizona counties as human-caused wildfire activity increases

Jose R. Gonzalez, Arizona Republic
Updated ·2 min read

Fire restrictions went into effect Thursday on state land across seven additional counties following weather conditions and the increased human-caused fires, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management announced.

In a Wednesday press release, the department said there were "increasingly hot and dry conditions with an uptick in human-caused fire activity" leading to the use of resources in multiple wildfires across the state. The department said that in "an effort to provide for public and firefighter safety and reduce the potential for any new starts," there will be indefinite Stage 1 fire restrictions.

The restrictions would remain in effect until rescinded, the department said.

Wildfire map: Track where fires are burning in Arizona in 2024

The new restrictions on state trust impact these seven counties:

  • Apache County

  • Coconino County south of the Grand Canyon

  • La Paz County

  • Mohave County

  • Navajo County

  • Yavapai County

  • Yuma County

Gila, Maricopa and Pinal counties fire restrictions were already in place.

These state trust lands are also impacted:

  • Those outside incorporated municipalities.

  • Game and Fish Commission Wildlife areas and department properties outside incorporated municipalities.

  • State parks outside incorporated municipalities. These parks will remain open with restrictions.

  • All Department of Transportation highway, right-of-way property outside incorporated municipalities not federally owned.

Fire restrictions in place

  • Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, or wood stove, other than in a developed campsite or picnic area. There is an exception for devices solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off and only for use in barren, overhead-free areas and spaces 3 feet away from flammable materials.

  • Smoking unless within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation or improved site, or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter away from flammable materials.

  • Fireworks or "incendiary" devices.

  • Welding or operating acetylene or other open-flame torch devices.

Exemptions apply to:

  • Any active-duty federal, state or local law enforcement officer, rescue work or firefighter.

  • All land within a city boundary unless otherwise stated in a city ordinance.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Fire restrictions in place across AZ as human-caused wildfires increase