Arizona’s high country is a popular place for Memorial Day weekend travelers who want to escape the desert heat.
Although a few factors have made northern Arizona’s forests less prone to wildfires, forest officials say that doesn’t rule out the potential and are urging the public to use common sense.
“What it comes down to is personal responsibility,” said Jim Payne, a U.S. Forest Service spokesman. “Be careful with any fire source.”
Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of the summer season, a time when people gather for barbecues, head out to public lands and lakes around the state to hike, boat, fish and camp. Inevitably, that means campfires.
All but one of the 29 wildfires on the Coconino National Forest this year were caused by people, and forest spokeswoman Karen Malis-Clark said they likely originated from campfires. On the neighboring Kaibab National Forest, three of the four fires since January were caused by people.
Forest officials say there’s not much of a chance for campfires to spread if a few safety rules are followed. Campers should build fires that are small and manageable in established fire rings when winds are calm. Before you leave, they say to make sure a fire is cool to the touch.
“If people have a campfire using all the common sense and safety with campfires, there’s low risk,” Malis-Clark said.
Last year, high winds kicked up embers from a campfire on the Kaibab, triggering the 2,000-acre X Fire. Three young Texas residents who were camping in an area south of the Grand Canyon said they thought they had put it out. Each later pleaded guilty to leaving a campfire unattended.
Hundreds of wildfires are expected across northern Arizona this year as part of a normal fire season, though few significant ones are expected. The fires generally start as surface fires when vegetation is still moist and grow in size and intensity when the fuels dry out.
The potential for fires decreases with the arrival of the monsoon season.
Three of Arizona’s six national forests won’t be under fire restrictions for the Memorial Day weekend, and much of the Coconino National Forest won’t have any, either.
Hot, dry and windy conditions prompted restrictions on the Prescott and Tonto national forests. Campfires and irresponsible target shooters are high on the list of concerns for Clay Templin, fire management officer on the Tonto.
A fire recently broke out when a bullet ricocheted off something in the forest. Target shooting, as well as campfires in undeveloped recreation sites, are prohibited under the fire restrictions.
Foolishness also concerns Templin. Last year, three fires started after hot embers fell from a barbecue grill that someone was pulling behind a vehicle between Mesa and Payson, he said.
“Those are the kind of foolish things that I’m sure seem like a good idea at the time,” he said.
Forest officials say recreationists also need to be aware of where they park their vehicles, toss cigarette butts and use chain saws.
“Any ignition, any flame source can start a wildfire,” said Payne, especially when the winds kick up.
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