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Whenever you plan to head out on to your public lands, it's always wise to call ahead to the Field Office or Ranger Station that oversees your destination to check on local conditions. Point and click at the interactive map above to search all of the state's recreation sites for phone numbers and other details. |
Arizona Fire News
ARIZONA RESTRICTIONS AND CLOSURES
SEEING SMOKE IN ARIZONA? MAYBE IT'S INTENTIONAL
PRESS SECTION -- click here to read official agency Press Releases and/or Restriction and Closure Orders
Latest Fire News
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The Safford Air Operations Center is maintained by the Bureau of Land Management.
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ARIZONA RESTRICTIONS AND CLOSURES
After Labor Day, 2008
Opportunities for outdoor fun on public lands abound year round - even during the spring and summer "fire season." There is always some place where you can camp, hike, fish, visit historic sites or take a leisurely drive to enjoy the scenery.
Land management agencies, tribal governments, counties and cities pay particularly close attention to fire prevention and preparedness every year - regardless of moisture - to ensure that your outdoor experiences will be pleasant and safe.
YOUR bottom line? Always plan outdoor excursions wisely, call local authorities to check on any last-minute changes in conditions before you leave. The bottom line: BE CAREFUL with fire year round.
And remember ALL FIREWORKS (EVEN SPARKLERS) ARE ILLEGAL IN ARIZONA!!
Whenever you plan to head out on to your public lands, it`s always wise to call ahead to the Field Office or Ranger Station that oversees your destination to check on local conditions. Point and click at the interactive map of Arizona above to search all of the state's recreation sites for phone numbers and other details.
WHAT`S OPEN:
Most EVERYTHING!! except for the few areas listed below.
WHAT`S RESTRICTED:
Different land managing agencies establish their fire restrictions for their lands in different ways. Some use national forest or ranger district boundaries, county lines or other administrative areas. Use the maps found throughout this website to clarify where you might be restricted from using fires. Start here to find county or national forest boundaries.
NATIONAL FORESTS
ALL NATIONAL FOREST RESTRICTIONS PLACED IN 2008 HAVE BEEN LIFTED.
BLM LANDS
ALL BLM RESTRICTIONS PLACED IN 2008 HAVE BEEN LIFTED.
Here is a map showing BLM Field Office boundaries.
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES
OPEN FIRES of any type are PROHIBITED on these refuges year round.
NATIONAL PARKS
NONE OF THE NATIONAL PARKS AND MONUMENTS IN ARIZONA ARE CURRENTLY OBSERVING ANY SEASONAL FIRE RESTRICTIONS.
However, National Parks and Monuments maintain differing restrictions on cooking and campfires year round - use the interactive map above to locate individual sites and check the NOTES at the bottom of a site's page for local restrictions.
BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS (BIA)
Hopi Tribal lands remain under restrictions year round and other reservations observe seasonal restrictions.
To contact individual tribes about local conditions, use the following numbers: Tohono O'odham (520-383-8276), San Carlos Apache (928-475-2326), Salt River Pima (480-850-8244), Navajo Nation (928-729-4007), Hopi (928-734-2106), Gila River Community (520-796-5900), Fort Apache (928-338-5326).
Please remember, tribal lands are NOT public lands; please observe all tribal restrictions on access, photography, etc.
STATE PARKS, STATE TRUST LANDS and STATE WILDLIFE AREAS
NONE OF THE STATE PARKS, TRUST LANDS AND WILDLIFE AREAS IN ARIZONA ARE CURRENTLY OBSERVING ANY SEASONAL FIRE RESTRICTIONS.
Remember, any non-hunting, out-of-season recreation on State Trust Lands requires a permit from the Arizona State Land Department.
Click here to locate Arizona State Parks and call ahead to the individual park to check for any local restrictions.
WHAT`S CLOSED:
Local conditions sometimes require land managers to close access or use of areas within their jurisdiction. ALWAYS check with local offices before venturing out on to Arizona's public lands.
In the Apache-Sitgreaves, Highway 273 is CLOSED from its junction at Forest Road 87 to Crescent Lake. Please use Highway 261 to access the Big Lake Recreation Area. .
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SEEING SMOKE IN ARIZONA? MAYBE IT'S INTENTIONAL
Many agencies and tribes practice prescribed burning to eliminate excess fuels and reduce fire danger. Weather and environmental conditions play a key role in the timing and accomplishment of these projects. People in these areas will see and smell smoke for the duration of the burn; smoke inversions may occur during nighttime hours. As always, firefighter and public safety are the top priority.
Sometimes, naturally caused wildfires are allowed to burn as "wildland fire use" (WFU)fires for the same reasons. The objective of any WFU fire is to protect, maintain and enhance resources, and, as nearly as possible, allow fire to function in its natural ecological role within defined boundaries.
Before a fire is put into WFU status, land managers evaluate several criteria. For example, archaeologists and wildlife biologists inspect the area to ensure wildlife habitats and archaeological sites will not be harmed as a result of the fire or management practices. Once a fire is put into WFU status, it is actively managed, meaning boundaries, weather and fuels conditions under which the fire will be allowed to burn are established.
In both cases, agency fire managers follow strict guidelines, monitoring burn conditions and the generation of smoke.
For an example of a News Release about a prescribed burning project, click here.
If you are concerned about how wildfire smoke can affect your health, go to this website.
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