Joint News Release
Coconino National Forest: George Jozens, (928) 527-3412 gjozens@fs.fed.us
Kaibab National Forest: Bob Blasi, (928) 635-5653 bobblasi@fs.fed.us
Fire restrictions to be lifted today on Coconino and Kaibab National Forests
Williams, Ariz., July 17, 2017, For Immediate Release — Due to significant widespread rain and decreasing fire danger, the entire Coconino and Kaibab National Forests in northern Arizona will begin lifting all campfire and smoking restrictions. The Kaibab National Forest will rescind restrictions today at 12 p.m. (Monday, July 17) and the Coconino National Forest will follow tomorrow morning (Tuesday July 18) at 8 a.m.
Forest managers typically lift fire restrictions when at least a half inch of precipitation has been received over more than two-thirds of the forests. To date, many areas of both forests have received much more than that amount of precipitation.
“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.
Know Before You Go! The public can obtain additional fire information via the following:
- Arizona Fire Restrictions firerestrictions.us/az/
- Arizona Fire Prevention & Information wildlandfire.az.gov/
- Fire Restrictions on Public Lands in Arizona and New Mexico 1-877-864-6985
To learn the latest information about the forest you intend to visit, go to its website:
Bob Blasi, Fire Information Officer
Forest Service,Kaibab National Forest, South Zone,Williams & Tusayan Ranger Districts
p: 928-635-5653 c: 928-606-7491 f: 928-635-5690 bobblasi@fs.fed.us
Coconino County News
Posted on: July 17, 2017
County removes fire restrictions
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 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.A link to the full Wildfire Defense Ordinance can be found at on the Coconino County homepage at www.coconino.az.gov/emergency.