If you see any fire on public lands, call 911, because fire bans are now in effect by nearly every fire agency in the area.
Last week, all of the local fire authorities in the area, including the Verde Valley Fire District, both the Prescott and Coconino National Forests, Yavapai and Coconino counties, and the Cottonwood Fire Department, Copper Canyon Fire and Medical Authority and Sedona Fire District announced they would be enacting Stage 1 fire restrictions effective 8 a.m. Friday, May 14.
The 2020-21 winter in Northern Arizona was a dry one. With the dry winter, combined with the “nonsoon” of 2020’s summer, when the usual seasonal rains that come to Arizona did not materialize, fire safety officials say that the current conditions in the Verde Valley are extremely dry.
“Stage 1 fire restrictions prohibit igniting, building, maintaining or using fire including charcoal or briquettes,” VVFD’s press release announcing the restrictions states. “Also prohibited is smoking outside in public places. Smoking outside on private property is not regulated; however, it is strongly discouraged.”
Exceptions to the burn limits include allowing for propane fires and specially designated fire pits, such as those at developed campgrounds in the National Forest.
“Stage 1 restrictions don’t stop people from having outdoor activities,” Cottonwood Fire Chief Ron Sauntman said. “They can still do some burning but it’s a controlled activity. They can still have fires within controlled spaces.”
Fire authorities say that the dry weather has led to high levels of burnable fuels, especially with brush that grew in the spring beginning to dry out.
“It’s hot. It’s dry. We’re seeing drought effects with juniper dying off and manzanita dying off,” Brian Steinhardt, fire management officer for the Prescott and Coconino National Forests, said. “The goal is to limit ignition from people burning campfires …. When you go camping in the woods, take enough water to put your campfire out properly.”
So far, the dry conditions have luckily not led to too many significant fires in the area, though fire chiefs pointed to the Tussock Fire that burned near Crown King over the last week, which at press time is 91% contained, as a warning sign.
As usual with fire restrictions, preventing fires often depends less on the actions of the fire departments than on individuals preventing fires. Chiefs recommend removing easily burnable weeds and trash from properties, making sure not to drag chains while driving, and anything else that can be done to reduce the risk of starting a fire accidentally.
“The most important advice about preventing fires is about taking care of their individual properties,” Sauntman said. “Arizona, due to the current conditions as we’ve seen over the past decade, is becoming a state that burns year-round.”
“We’re getting ready to go to the summer season and go to a holiday weekend, and we need to make sure that people are smart in the decisions we’re making,” VVFD Fire Chief Daniel Johnson said. “We need to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to be smart.”
“We feel that the current and expected weather conditions warrant this move,” Sedona Fire Marshal Jon Davis said.
