Caution: Flagstaff, Coconino and Grand Canyon National Park Move to Stage 2 Fire Restrictions

The City of Flagstaff, Coconino County, Coconino National Forest, and Grand Canyon National Park will all move to Stage 2 fire restrictions starting at 8 a.m. on Friday, June 21. The Arizona Daily Sun reports that due to continued hot, dry, and windy conditions throughout northern Arizona, wildfire risk is higher than normal.

While there is no estimated end date to the Stage 2 precautions, historically, the grade has changed after four to five weeks at which point restrictions could be upgraded to Stage 3 or reduced only after significant and widespread rainfall.

Recreationists hoping for campfires or planning to cook hot meals in northern Arizona parks and forests should be aware of these restrictions as reported by the Daily Sun.

Restrictions in the City of Flagstaff

Smoking as well as using electronic cigarettes are prohibited in all public places within Flagstaff including city parks, open spaces, and the Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS) at all times.

Stage 2 fire restrictions will include the following new restrictions:

• The use of firepits and other open flame devices without an on/off switch is prohibited.
• The use of charcoal and wood-fired barbecues are prohibited throughout the city, including at private residences and campgrounds.

The following restrictions from Stages 0 and 1 will remain active:

• Permits for open burning within the city will not be issued.
• The sale or use of consumer-grade fireworks is prohibited.
• The use of charcoal and wood-fired barbecues are prohibited in city parks and open spaces.

Still allowed here:

• The use of propane and gas barbecues with an on-off switch are still allowed throughout the city.

Restrictions in Coconino County

Under the county’s Stage 2 restrictions these activities are prohibited at all times:

• Igniting, building, maintaining, or using a fire, including fires fueled by combustible materials such as wood, charcoal, briquettes, and/or coal.
• Smoking outdoors.
• Use of internal combustion engines for common household-only activities, such as landscaping or property maintenance and repair.
• Use of explosive targets, tracer rounds or incendiary ammunition.
• Outdoor mechanical and industrial operations such as welding and/or the use of acetylene or other torch with an open flame.

Still allowed here:

• Using a stove, wood pellet smoker, grill, fire ring, or other manufactured device that is fueled solely by pressurized liquid petroleum or pressurized liquid petroleum gas (LPG) fuel that can be turned on and turned off (for example, a gas grill) is permitted provided the devices are located within a Developed Site as defined by the County’s Wildfire Defense Ordinance.

Restrictions in Coconino National Forest

Under Stage 2 restrictions, the following are prohibited forestwide:

• Igniting, building, maintaining, or using a fire (including charcoal and briquettes) anywhere within the Coconino National Forest, including developed recreation sites. This also includes smudge pots and woodstoves.
• Smoking outside (with the exemption of smoking within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of any flammable material).
• Blasting, welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame.
• Operating a generator, chainsaw or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine during industrial operations or firewood gathering (with the exemption of generators equipped with an approved spark-arresting device in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of the generator).

As a reminder, the use of fireworks is never permitted on national forest and state lands.

Restrictions in Grand Canyon National Park

The Stage 2 designation at the Grand Canyon encompasses the entire park including all campgrounds, residential areas, backcountry sites and developed recreation sites including: Phantom Ranch, Cottonwood Campground, Havasupai Gardens Campground and the Colorado River corridor.

Stage 2 restrictions here:

• All wood burning and charcoal fires, including campfires, warming fires, and charcoal barbeques are prohibited. The use of liquid petroleum or LPG fueled devices that can be turned on and off, such as stoves, lanterns, or heating devices are allowed if used in an area that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials within 3 feet of the device. This prohibition does not apply to the use of any type of fire for the purposes of lighting charcoal for cooking within the Colorado River corridor shoreline.
• Outdoor smoking, except as specifically exempted within an enclosed vehicle.
• Using explosives or any incendiary device; fireworks are always prohibited on public lands.
• Operating or using any internal combustion engine such as chainsaws, wood splitters, weed eaters, generators, welders, or any other devices that can cause a fire are prohibited. This prohibition does not include street legal vehicles. Exception: Permits for official work with these devices can be granted through the GRCA hot work permit process managed by the Grand Canyon National Park Structure Fire Program.

Reactionists across northern Arizona are urged to obey restrictions and recreate responsibly. Check local weather forecasts and precipitation levels as indicators of when restrictions might lift, and always know before you go.