“Sedona Fire has had five patients today in the back country suffering heat-related illnesses,” the Sedona Fire District announced on Saturday. “We are asking those that are recreating in red rock country to please hike early and be off the trails before the heat sets in. With temperatures at or above 100 degrees, a large percentage of our calls in the back country are for individuals experiencing heat related emergencies.”
All of the responses were to separate incidents, a majority of which took place at least a mile from a trailhead. Additionally to be covered in a forthcoming story the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office on the afternoon of Monday, June 17 announced a heat related death on the Hi-Line Trail on the afternoon of Friday, June 14.
“What we’ve been finding is people are still out on the trails when it’s well over 100 degrees,” SFD Risk Reduction Division Chief Dori Booth said on Sunday, June 16. “And this is locals and tourists alike. It’s not necessarily people that aren’t familiar with our heat and elevation.”
Booth added that SFD will likely be compiling statistics this week “on the trails that we see the most amount of injuries and heat-related calls on” and that she anticipated that the district will be receiving several heart and heat monitors for personnel in order to document the physiological effects that responding to the calls has on staff.
Along with the Coconino National Forest, Coconino and Yavapai counties, SFD imposed Stage 1 fire restrictions on June 6, citing high temperature and low humidity.
“Under Stage 1 restrictions, fires, campfires, charcoal, coal, wood stoves and smudge pots are prohibited, except within a developed recreation site,” a Coconino National Forest June 4 press release stated. “Smoking is also prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or a developed recreation site. Fireworks are always prohibited on all national forests.”
Booth told the nonprofit Big Park Regional Coordinating Council on Thursday, June 13, that SFD is discussing imposing Stage 2 restrictions within the next two weeks.
“I would imagine we’re going to be in Stage 2 just the way that the weather’s been with no rain and high times and heavy winds,” Booth subsequently said.
The Arizona monsoon officially started on Saturday, June 15. The National Weather Service’s Arizona Monsoon Outlook found that the 2023 monsoon was the17th driest on record since 1895, although a more than usually wet winter did improve drought conditions and increased vegetation growth.
The report forecast a below-normal amount of precipitation statewide for this monsoon, with odds of 39%, while placing the chance of near-normal precipitation at 33% and normal precipitation at 28%.
The National Weather Service has predicted a 60% likelihood of above average Temperatures during the monsoon.
According to the NWS’s Monday, June 17, forecast, Sedona is expected to reach 100 degrees again on Friday with a 20% chance of thunderstorms. Rain is not expected until mid-July.
