It’s that time of the year when Arizonans flock to their favorite outdoor places, and the continued warm, windy and dry conditions mean that fire and smoking restrictions will be in place throughout the state by the Memorial Day weekend. Public land managers are urging the public to be careful with fires and to know if the area they plan to visit is under fire restrictions. Know before you go!

During these times of warmer weather and high winds, and before the start of the monsoons and lightning, most wildfires are human caused. Public land management agencies are implementing fire and smoking restrictions to protect public health and safety by preventing human-caused wildfires.

The following fire and smoking restrictions are in effect on Wednesday, May 22 for the listed areas. For detailed information folks should contact the nearest land management agency office where they plan to work or play, visit http://firerestrictions.us/az or call the toll free Southwest Fire Restriction Hotline 1-877-864-6985. Fire restrictions will remain in effect until public lands receive significant precipitation.

Prohibited:

▪ Building, maintaining, or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, or wood stove other than in a developed campsite or picnic area where grills are provided. The exception is BLM lands in Hassayampa and Lower – these uses prohibited even in developed sites.

▪ Smoking, except within enclosed vehicles, buildings or in cleared areas within a developed campground or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

▪ Fireworks and incendiary devices such as exploding targets (these uses are always prohibited year-round on federal lands).

(The following applies to Tonto NF, AZ State Forestry, and BLM Colorado River & Gila Districts)

▪ Operating internal combustion power tools, using welding equipment or torches with open flames, operating combustion engines without spark-arresting devices in effective working order is prohibited.

(The following applies to Tonto NF and BLM Phoenix District)

▪ Discharging firearms except while engaged in a lawful hunt in accordance with Arizona hunting laws and regulations.

Allowed: Use of petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns, and heating devices that can be turned on and off.

Restrictions apply to the following areas:

National Forests: Prescott, Tonto, Coronado, Kaibab (except the North Kaibab District), and the Coconino National Forests. The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests will implement fire and smoking restrictions on Thursday, May 23 at 12:01 a.m.

National Parks in Arizona: Saguaro National Park, Coronado National Memorial, Chiricahua National Monument, Fort Bowie National Historic Site, and Tumacacori National Historical Park.

Arizona State Forestry: All unincorporated State-owned and State-managed lands south of the Grand Canyon, including all State Trust lands, all Game & Fish Wildlife Areas, all Arizona State Parks and all Department of Transportation highway right-of-way property not owned by Federal land management agencies.

Bureau of Land Management: Colorado River District (Lake Havasu and Yuma Field Offices), Yuma and La Paz Counties; Phoenix District (Lower Sonoran and Hassayampa Field Offices) - Maricopa, Yavapai, Pima, Pinal and Gila Counties; Gila District (Safford and Tucson Field Offices) Gila, Pima, Pinal, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Graham, Greenlee, Navajo and Apache Counties.

Recreational opportunities on public lands are plentiful. People can still enjoy hiking, camping, mountain biking, or fishing. Land managers ask that folks enjoy their public lands responsibly: fires in developed campsites or picnic areas where grills are allowed should never be left unattended and always completely extinguished before departing.

Useful social media sites

Arizona Fire Prevention & Information (fire restrictions & red flag alerts) http://wildlandfire.az.gov/, Twitter: @wildlandfireAZ #AZFire, @blmazfire

Arizona Emergency Information Network (for all hazard emergency and disaster information http://www.azein.gov, Twitter: @AZEIN

Inciweb (large wildland fires nationwide) http://www.inciweb.nwcg.gov, Twitter: @inciweb

For Fire Information & Restrictions: http://www.wildlandfire.az.gov/