Western Outdoor Times - Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!

Recently, small brush fires have started popping up around the valley. In late June, a five-acre brush fire exploded into a 2,500-acre wildfire in a matter of hours. This wildfire, now known as the Diamond Fire, borders McDowell Mountain Regional Park, which is managed by Maricopa County.

" ... working closely with Scottsdale Fire Department, we evacuated and closed McDowell Mountain Regional Park to protect visitors and staff," said Maricopa County Supervisor Thomas Galvin, who represents District 2, where the park is located. "Unfortunately, some fire damage did occur, though it was minimal. Since the majority of the County's regional parks now border housing communities, I have asked our Parks Department if there are additional measures we can take to minimize the chance of a wildfire igniting in one of our parks. Fortunately, there are, and we are taking action."

Monitoring Moisture, Vegetation

"For the past month, my team has been monitoring the moisture in the air and the vegetation in the parks," said R.J. Cardin, Maricopa County Parks and Recreation director. "We have also been strategically clearing brush in areas to create fire breaks and defensible spaces. This spring, we had an abundance of vegetation growth, which now serves as fuel to help spread wildfires. Given what we're seeing at McDowell Mountain Regional Park, we have decided to heighten our fire restrictions to include smoking. This decision is not a knee-jerk reaction to the current situation, but rather a preventative measure to keep park visitors, the natural resources, and communities that surround the parks safe."

Smoking Ban

Effective Thursday, June 29, smoking in Maricopa County's regional parks was prohibited, except within enclosed vehicles and campers. Individuals who smoke are asked to ensure that all materials are fully extinguished and disposed of properly. The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department initiated its annual fire ban on May 1.

The department's decision to increase fire restrictions aligns with the Bureau of Land Management , Tonto National Forest, and Arizona State Park's current fire restrictions. The usual restrictions, which include banning the use of all campfires, fire pits, and charcoal in grills or any other manner, are still in effect; however, it is acceptable to use gas/propane grills in designated areas. Violation of Park Rule R-113 may result in a citation. A date to lift the fire ban has not been established.

Eleven County Parks

Eleven Maricopa County regional parks have been affected by the fire ban: Lake Pleasant Regional Park, White Tank Mountain Regional Park, Adobe Dam Regional Park, Buckeye Hills Regional Park, Estrella Mountain Regional Park, Hassayampa River Preserve, San Tan Mountain Regional Park, Usery Mountain Regional Park, McDowell Mountain Regional Park, Cave Creek Regional Park, and Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area.

If you have any questions regarding the fire ban, contact the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department at (602) 506-2930, or visit http://www.maricopa.gov/parks.