5/21/15 – Well it’s that time of year again! Folks are camping, hiking, riding and enjoying the beauty of Northeast Arizona. We are pleased to have our residents and visitors alike taking advantage of the great weather to explore nature. Sadly there are still some individuals that have not followed recommended practices for campfire safety!! There have been dozens of campfires found abandoned or unattended this season. Many have gotten out of the fire rings in which they were built and could have been the cause of another disastrous wildfire!

With above average precipitation and below normal temperatures we realize it may seem safe to  allow a fire to extinguish on its own. However, with dead fuels and little to no winter snow pack this is an incorrect assumption. We strongly urge everyone to maintain vigilance every time they start a fire no matter what type of conditions or restrictions we have! No fire is ever allowed to be left burning or unattended at anytime, ever. Please remember to bring and use plenty of  sand and water to thoroughly and completely extinguish all fires before leaving campsites.  A simple rule of campfire safety “If it’s too hot to put your hands in, it is too hot to leave!”