With colder temperatures and recent precipitation, fire restrictions in and around most of the Verde Valley have been lifted.
The Sedona Fire District lifted its fire restrictions effective Wednesday, Nov. 11, for all portions of the fire district.
Recent rains along with higher humidity and increased fuel moisture have lowered, but have not eliminated, fire danger in the district. SFD encourages everyone to be responsible when working with or around fire. Allowed recreational fires include heating, cooking, religious and ceremonial fires. Those cannot exceed a fuel area of 36 inches in diameter, and fuel shall not be stacked higher than 24 inches. Any fire that exceeds those limitations is considered a bonfire and requires a separate permit through the Sedona Fire District.
“There are so many metrics that we track to make these decisions,” SFD Fire Marshal Jon Davis said. “Burn index, energy release component, fuel moisture, relative humidity and temperature to name a few.”
Residents and visitors are reminded they can be held legally responsible for causing any fire that escapes control and causes damage, Davis said. Remember to use caution when using equipment or items that can spark a fire. Never use gasoline or other flammable liquids to start a fire.
All fires shall:
■ Be attended by a competent person at least 18 years of age.
■ Have a means of extinguishment nearby.
■ Be completely extinguished when burning is completed.
■ Be conducted in a safe and responsible manner.
■ Be fueled by clean, dry, seasoned firewood.
■ Not produce noxious smoke or odors.
“We lifted the burn ban in early July for a short period,” Davis said. “During that time all the metrics were trending in the right direction and the promise of monsoonal moisture was just around the corner. When that didn’t materialize, and the indicators started trending in the wrong direction, we had to go back into restrictions. This year was not typical and we are hoping to be back to a more normal weather pattern next year so that we can avoid another extended period of burn restrictions.”
Coconino County
Coconino County has lifted all fire restrictions on private lands in the unincorporated areas of the county in coordination with similar actions by Coconino National Forest and Kaibab National Forest, as well as other agencies in the area.
The lifting of the fire restrictions became effective Tuesday, Nov. 10. The county action to lift fire restrictions ends the county’s campfire ban and Stage 1 fire restrictions enacted earlier in the year, a press release stated.
The end of the fire restrictions comes with cooler temperatures, improved relative humidity and recent snowfall that have helped to retard fire potential in the forests.
Coconino National Forest
Stage 1 fire restrictions are currently lifted across Coconino National Forest, as key components and measurements that fire managers use to determine the implementation of fire restrictions have dropped, which has also decreased fire danger, a release stated.
However, visitors should be aware of certain areas that have fire restrictions year-round, which can be found on the Coconino National Forest web page.
CNF briefly came out of fire restrictions when the monsoon arrived in July, but then re-entered Stage 1 fire restrictions on Aug. 14 and has been in restrictions until this week.
Yavapai County
As of Nov. 11, Yavapai County Board of Supervisors Chairman Craig Brown has lifted the countywide fire ban.
“Yavapai County Office of Emergency Management has worked to coordinate with our response organizations in an effort to achieve alignment that may impact response to wildfire ncidents,” Public Works Director Dan Cherry said in a release. “It is worth noting that fire districts/departments may choose to maintain some level of restrictions due to geography, identified threat and moisture accumulation.”
The release stated that it is prudent to mention that the citizens of Yavapai County should remain vigilant and consider that, although the immediate threat of wildfire is reduced, there is still a required amount of awareness that must be maintained, particularly since annual precipitation amounts have been below average.
“Based upon current weather projections and recent precipitation, many agencies within Yavapai County have lifted, or are planning on lifting, fire restrictions this week,” Brown said. “Yavapai County continues to support and works to align with our partners throughout the region and lifting the countywide fire ban corresponds to the regional efforts.”
