2021 Fire Restrictions

[chumley]

National Forests
Apache-Sitgreaves No Restrictions starting Fri Jul 16th
Coconino No Restrictions starting Fri Jul 16th
Coronado No Restrictions starting Fri Jul 9th
Kaibab No Restrictions starting Fri Jul 16th
Prescott No Restrictions starting Wed Jul 21st
Tonto No Restrictions starting Wed Jul 21st

State Trust
No Restrictions except Stage I in Yavapai County only

BLM
Nothing reported on HAZ thus far.

Per usual; check with the land managing agency before any trip for the best results.

----------- original post below ------------
Update: A-S NF enacting a full closure beginning 6/24.

Update: A-S NF goes to Stage 2 beginning 6/11

Apache-Sitgreaves are the first National Forests in the state to enact restrictions, effective tomorrow May 7, 2021.
These Stage 1 Restrictions are set to expire December 31, 2021.
Read the official forest order here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 909204.pdf

The public land agencies in the Southwest have made yet another attempt at consolidating restriction information in one (woefully poor attempt at an) easy to use website.
Needless to say, it does not yet reflect the announced ASNF restriction. Perhaps it will tomorrow when it takes effect?
You may visit this consolidated source of fire restriction data at this link.

[cactuscat]

@chumley
Nope, I can't think of one.
I just think that many people - the people most likely to do something dumb - need very, very simple rules to understand: "No Fires Anywhere" is easier to understand than "no fires here, but fires ok there ... smoking maybe if you clear the area ... gas stoves ok - what about propane campfire thingies, etc ..."

[nonot]

I imagine the response time to a campground fire is much faster than that to a dispersed campsite as well. More people around to notice, tend to be closer to cities, along better roads, etc. But I agree with cactuscat that it is weird/confusing to have campfires restricted in some ways, but not others.

While you are ragging on Tonto, remember that two of the most recent three fires were caused by (catalytic converter?) vehicle and lightning, not campfires. The third that started near Woodbury TH was human-caused, but I don't think I ever saw them determine in the final conclusion it was a vehicle vs a campfire vs smoking vs glass bottle, etc. And the Woodbury fire started while it was under fire restrictions...I think.

[Sredfield]

@chumley
Well, there was that FS employee burning letters in a Colorado campground a few years ago. I wasn't there but I understand it was in a fire pit.

[andrewp]

Well, there was that FS employee burning letters in a Colorado campground a few years ago. I wasn't there but I understand it was in a fire pit.

Yep. The Hayman Fire in Colorado: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayman_Fire

Started by a Forest Service employee in a fire pit, but not clear if it was at a developed or dispersed campground.

As long as we're on the topic of major fires started by stupid people how can we forget the Rodeo-Chedeski fire? Coincidentally started about the same time as the Hayman fire and this time by a seasonal firefighter trying to ensure that he would have work close to home.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayman_Fire


Of course it's hard to really place blame in any of these cases as according to one of our illustrious elected officials the real reason for the devastating fires is the fact that there are just too many trees.

[chumley]

the real reason for the devastating fires is the fact that there are just too many trees

Amusing as it may seem when worded that way, if you doubt this you may wish to do some further reading on the subject.

[chumley]

BLM has announced Stage 1 restrictions will begin Friday May 14 across the Colorado River and Phoenix districts, which encompass lands managed by the Yuma, Kingman, Lake Havasu, Hassayampa and Lower Sonoran field offices. (The Hassayampa office covers BLM land that extends from I-10 west of Phoenix to the Utah border).

https://www.blm.gov/press-release/fire- ... nd-western

[AugustWest]

@chumley
counterintuitive but true

[Alston_Neal]

Amusing as it may seem when worded that way

Make America Rake Again

[chumley]

Arizona State Trust Land has joined the restriction parade.
https://dffm.az.gov/fire-restrictions

[chumley]

Coronado National Forest has joined the rest of forests in AZ, but has jumped straight to Stage 2 restrictions (per @cactuscat 's request!) beginning Wednesday, May 26:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coronado ... EPRD914980

[rwstorm]

@chumley
About time, they tend to be late to the game down here.

[hikeaz]

@chumley

I can only HOPE that USFS accurately classifies generators as 'internal combustion engines'.

[cactuscat]

CNF has this banner strung across the road as you start up Mt. Graham.
At first I thought it was some sort of protest!

[rwstorm]

@cactuscat
We need more of that.

[chumley]

@cactuscat
It's very rarely a "messaging" problem. Some will burn anyway. I think the excuse I hear most is "it's public land, I can do what I want."

[RedRoxx44]

Off the topic off course I heard on the news where some nitwit used like 80 lbs of Tannerite (sp??) for a gender reveal and freaked a bunch of people out with the force of the explosion. At least no fires were started; as this was somewhere back east where they are getting some rain.

[cactuscat]

[chumley]

@cactuscat
Wow. Such simple clarity. Did Coronado NF assist with writing that?

[chumley]

Coconino NF goes to Stage 2 beginning Friday 6/11.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino ... EPRD920362

Prescott NF goes to Stage 2 beginning Friday 6/11.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/prescott ... EPRD920258

Tonto NF goes to Stage 2 beginning Friday 6/11.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 920896.pdf

Apache-Sitgreaves NF goes to State 2 beginning Friday 6/11.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/asnf/ale ... ?aid=66397

[KwaiChang]

some nitwit used like 80 lbs of Tannerite (sp??) for a gender reveal and freaked a bunch of people out with the force of the explosion. At least no fires were started; as this was somewhere back east where they are getting some rain.

WHAT is with the over the top gender reveals??? I just do not get it at all.....