State and federal fire managers are putting more campfire restrictions in place Tuesday as conditions in Arizona continue to dry out. KNAU’s Ryan Heinsius reports.
According to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, drier weather combined with an uptick in wildfire activity led to the new restrictions. Building and maintaining fires and smoking outdoors are prohibited on state lands along with operating chainsaws and other internal combustion tools. The ban doesn’t apply to areas in Coconino County south of the Grand Canyon.
In addition, officials with the bureaus of Reclamation and Land Management have banned all fires on lands they manage in Arizona.
Officials say the orders are designed to keep firefighters and communities safe from injury, smoke and COVID-19. Violators face citations, fines and jail time.
All six national forests in Arizona have put fire restrictions in place, along with Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff. Officials say Arizona fire danger is currently highest in the southern and central parts of the state.
