MAY 9, 2011

Fire restrictions on State Trust Lands

PHOENIX – Fire and smoking restrictions are being implemented by the State Forestry Division on State Trust Lands beginning Wednesday, May 11 at 12 p.m. noon and running through July 31 or until further notice. (Authority:  A.R.S § 37.623)

The restrictions have become necessary due to increased fire danger and are being implemented to prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public health and safety.

Contributing factors are weather conditions – high temperatures, low humidity and high wind; as well as the conditions of desert and forest landscapes statewide including dry brush and grasses.

The prohibition will apply to State Trust Lands statewide.

The restrictions are as follows:
• Building, maintaining or using a fire, campfire, or charcoal burning device is prohibited. (Petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns, or heating devices are exempt from these restrictions.);
• Smoking is prohibited unless: it is within an enclosed vehicle, building, developed campground, or in an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials;
• Welding or operating acetylene or other torch device with an open flame is prohibited.

These restrictions apply to everyone with permits and leases issued by the State Land Department. State, Federal, and local fire and law enforcement officers as well as members of organized firefighting forces are exempt from these prohibitions while in the performance of official duties.

As always, fireworks are not allowed on State Trust Lands.

For fire restrictions on all jurisdictions statewide:  www.publiclands.org/firenews/AZ.php.

Information and tips on wildfire safety and preparedness can be found at:  wildlandfire.az.gov/ Arizona Interagency Twitter:  twitter.com/#!/wildlandfireAZ 

For more information on State Trust Land, visit the State Land Department website:
www.land.state.az.us.

MAY 9, 2011

Phoenix Mountain, Desert Preserve 2011 fire ban to start
May 9

The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department will ban open fires in city mountain and desert preserves* effective May 9, 2011.  In consultation with the Phoenix Fire Department, smoking and charcoal fires are included in the ban due to the extreme fire danger that the combination of low humidity, increasing temperatures and frequent high winds creates each spring. Additional information on the ban is available online at phoenix.gov/parks.

For those using the preserves, the fire ban stipulates the following:
• Open, wood and charcoal fires are prohibited in any part of the Phoenix mountain preserves.
• Smoking outside of enclosed vehicles will continue to be prohibited.
• Propane or gas grills may be used but only in established picnic areas.

Motorists traveling through or near Phoenix desert preserves should exercise extreme care with smoking materials and use only their vehicle’s ash trays to dispose of smoking materials.

To protect their homes, residents whose property borders the preserves may remove dry shrubs, brush and grasses and trim dead branches from trees within the ten-foot strip of preserve bordering their property. By creating this ten-foot “buffer zone,” residents can help to protect their
homes from brush fires in the adjacent preserve. For general information or for guidance before removing vegetation, residents can contact a Park Ranger by calling 602-495-5458 or by email at [email protected].

Preserve neighbors also should check irrigation lines and pool back-flush hoses to ensure that water is not seeping into the preserve. Outside water sources encourage unnaturally dense vegetation growth, which increases fire risk.

*The ban applies to Camelback Mountain; Papago Park; all areas of the Phoenix Mountains; South Mountain Park/Preserve; North Mountain and surrounding areas; the Sonoran Preserve; and the Deem Hills area. The fire ban does NOT apply to traditional city parks.