FLAGSTAFF — In coordination with area partners such as the U.S. Forest Service and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, Coconino County will remove fire restrictions at 8 a.m., Tuesday, July 18.

Significant moisture and fewer wildland fire starts throughout northern Arizona has brought has decreased the fire risk in the region. When local area U.S Forests lift fire restrictions, the Coconino Wildland Defense Ordinance allows for Coconino County Emergency Manager Whitney to remove restrictions.

Several areas in the region may have received less precipitation, causing fire danger to be higher in some locations. Residents and visitors are asked to use caution when using equipment or items that can spark a fire. They are also asked to extinguish all campfires, operate ATVS and motorcycles with spark arrestors and to use caution when operating barbeque grills. Residents and visitors are reminded they can be legally responsible for causing wildfires.

The County Enacted Stage 2 fire restrictions on June 22 due to very high wildfire danger in the area and went back to Stage 1 fire restrictions at the onset of the monsoon, July 13.

The Coconino and Kaibab forests have lifted their restrictions, also. The Coconino has been under Stage 2 fire restrictions while Kaibab remained in Stage 1 since mid-June.

“With the monsoon moisture we have received, the decreasing fire danger, and the availability of many firefighting resources, fire officials on both forests collaboratively decided it is the appropriate time to lift all fire restrictions for the Coconino and Kaibab,” said Jason Clawson, fire staff officer for the Kaibab National Forest. “Fire restrictions are a great tool for us in preventing unwanted, human-caused fires, and we’d like to thank our visitors for their vigilance in being cautious with potential ignition sources while recreating in the forests.”

The Coconino and Kaibab forests initially implemented campfire and smoking restrictions on June 13, in order to protect public health and reduce preventable, human-caused wildfires. While fire restrictions will be lifted over the next two days, visitors are always expected to use caution with campfires and other potential ignition sources. Campfires should always be completely extinguished and never left unattended or abandoned.

The task ahead is to remind people that they still have to be careful with camp fires. First you are required to have a shovel and enough water on hand to put out the fire out when you leave. A camp fire is NOT a bonfire. You should only build a fire that you can control. Remember winds can kick up and distribute sparks over a wide area.

FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County will rescind Stage 2 fire restrictions at 9 a.m., Thursday, July 13. Stage 1 restrictions will remain in effect and is in coordination with the National Forest Service and the State of Arizona.

Monsoonal rainfall throughout northern Arizona over the past week has brought moisture to the forests and the area. When local area U.S Forests move out of Stage 2 fire restrictions and back into Stage 1 restrictions, the Coconino Wildland Defense Ordinance allows for Coconino County Emergency Manager Whitney to downgrade restrictions. Coconino Emergency Management briefed the Board of Supervisors on the change in restrictions during a special session on Wednesday, July 12.

Although much of the region received rain, several areas may have received much less rainfall and fire conditions may still be high in some locations. Residents and visitors are asked to use caution when using equipment or items that can spark a fire. They are also asked to extinguish all campfires, operate ATVS and motorcycles with spark arrestors and to use caution when operating barbeque grills. Residents and visitors are reminded they can be legally responsible for causing wildfires.

The County Enacted Stage 2 fire restrictions on June 22 due to very high wildfire danger in the area.

The following restrictions apply on County public lands, as well as private lands in the unincorporated areas of the County. During Stage 1, the only combustion open fire and campfire allowed are listed below:

1. By persons with a written permit or variance.
2. For personal use of cigarette or other tobacco smoking medium when inside an enclosed vehicle or building, or in a developed recreational site in an area that is free of combustible materials and vegetation.
3. For emergency repair of public utilities and railroads and other health and safety mitigation measures when operated by a public utility or railroad and implemented in accordance with an approved agency plan.
4. By persons conducting a cultural or religious ceremony with a written permit or variance.
5. By any Federal, State or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting entity in the performance of an official duty.
6. By persons whose OPEN FIRE is the result of a device manufactured, for the purpose of cooking food, fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and turned off (for example a gas grill) when used in an area that is free of combustible materials and vegetation. This does not include Liquid fuel or LPG fire rings.

7. By persons operating internal combustion engines, in the course of mechanical or industrial operations, that would produce open flames and sparks but containing appropriate spark arresting devices; those welding or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame in an area that is free of combustible materials and vegetation; and those using explosives with written permission of an authorized governmental agency.
8. By persons operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails.
9. By persons operating electric generators or pumps with an approved spark arresting device in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding combustible materials within three (3) feet of the device.
10. Persons engaged in industrial and ranching operations with a permit or variance.
11. With an open fire using charcoal or wood for cooking food or providing warmth for human beings in a for fee campground with fire hosting amenities [grill, fire ring].

Unless allowed by an exemption above, common prohibited activities include open fire, campfires, fireworks, open smoking and use of exploding targets and tracer round ammunition.

A link to the full Wildfire Defense Ordinance can be found at on the Coconino County homepage at www.coconino.az.gov/emergency.