Big Idea

• Fire jurisdictions in Yavapai County have announced Stage II Fire Restrictions
• The restrictions take place starting on June 11
• The StageII Fire Restrictions can keep people safe
• Read more...

Prescott National Forest Enters Stage II Fire Restrictions on Friday, June 11 at 8:00 A.M.

PRESCOTT, AZ – June 8, 2021—   Due to increasing fire danger the Prescott National Forest will implement Stage II fire restrictions effective Friday, June 11, 2020 at 8 a.m. These additional fire restrictions will remain in effect until forest officials determine that conditions have changed sufficiently to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfire. 

Stage II fire restrictions prohibit the following:

1.Igniting, building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire. 

2.Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of any flammable material. 

3.Welding, or operating any acetylene or other torch with an open flame. 

4.Operating a chainsaw or other equipment operated by an internal combustion engine between the hours of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.   

5.Discharging a firearm, except while engaged in a lawful hunt pursuant to state, federal or tribal laws and regulations.

Exemptions to the restrictions include the following:

1.Persons with a written Forest Service authorization specifically exempting them from the effect of this order. 

2.Persons using a stove or grill that is solely fueled by liquid petroleum or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) fuels. 

3.Persons operating generators 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.

4.Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

To view Forest Order 03-09-00-21-278: Prescott National Forest Emergency Stage II Fire Restrictions, please go to Alerts & Notices.

Know Before You Go! The public can obtain current state and federal fire restrictions information across Arizona on the Arizona Interagency Wildfire Prevention and Information website .  The map is a culmination of work from federal, state, and local agencies who hope to explain to the public where it is safe to have fires and where it’s not. The map shows all fire restrictions in New Mexico and Arizona, regardless of jurisdiction.

For information on the Prescott National Forest, check out the Prescott NF website and following us on Facebook and Twitter.   

Yavapai County will also enter into Stage II fire restrictions as of June 11.

Yavapai County Will Enter Stage 2 Fire Restrictions 

On Tuesday May 8, 2021, The Yavapai County Board of Supervisors Chairman Craig Brown signed the Interim Stage 2 Fire Prohibition Order. The effective date of the fire ban is June 11, 2021, at 8:00 AM.  

Yavapai County Board of Supervisors Chairman Craig Brown said, “Working in conjunction with the Yavapai County Emergency Manager, local organizations such as the Prescott National Forest, Sedona Fire District and many others, it has been determined that since there has been no significant rain and the reported fuel levels are at a dangerously high level, we believe that at this time, moving to stage 2 fire restrictions is the wise thing to do.” 

Stage 2 restrictions are implemented in addition to those restrictions of Stage 1, and include: 

1. Prohibition of:  
   1. Discharging or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device when prohibited by the Permitted Fireworks section VIII.A.  
   2. Using an explosive.  
   3. Operating a chainsaw or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine between the hours of 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. 
   4. Welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame 
   5. Possession or use a motor vehicle off of Forest System Roads except when parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of the roadway; and except for parking overnight in a developed campground and or trailheads. 
      
      Petroleum-fueled stoves or lanterns and enclosed charcoal barbeque grills operated in residential yards are exempt from this prohibition, but the public is urged to exercise extreme caution in the use of such stoves, lanterns, or grills; and The public is urged to strictly obey any and all federal, state, or local fire restrictions currently in force as well as any such restrictions as may be enacted in the future. 
      
      The fire restriction set forth in this Order shall be subject to any exceptions established by current or future Federal, State, or Local fire restrictions and shall not apply on those public lands on which fire restrictions have not been imposed. 
      
      Regardless of any exceptions to the fire restrictions contained in this Order, or any exceptions contained in fire restrictions enacted by other entities.  The public is hereby urged to use particular caution in all uses of fire during this period of extreme fire danger. 
      
      This interim order will be considered and ratified at the next Board of Supervisors scheduled meeting. 
      
      As a reminder, Stage 1 restrictions are hereby implemented as part of this action, which includes prohibition of:  

1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire except within a developed recreation site, or improved site. 
2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an outdoor area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials. 
3. Operating or using any equipment with an internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order meeting either the USDA Forest Service Standard 5100-1a (as amended), or appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practice J335(b) and J350(a) (36 CFR 261.52 (j)). 

In addition to the Prescott National Forest setting stage II restrictions, so are the Prescott Fire Department, CAFMA and Groom Creek Fire District.