On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, the White Mountain Fire Coordinating Group convened to review regional fire conditions. Based on current assessments, fire restrictions for the following jurisdictions will be rescinded effective Friday, July 25th at 8:00 a.m.:
• Unincorporated areas of Apache and Navajo Counties
• Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests
• Arizona State Trust Lands and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands
• Cities/Towns of Eagar, Springerville, Snowflake, Taylor, Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside
Please note: The White Mountain Apache Reservation will also be returning to Stage 1 restrictions on Friday. The reservation remains under Stage 1 fire restrictions year-round.
This decision is the result of a careful analysis of several key indicators:
• Energy Release Component (ERC) values, a key measure of how intensely fuels could burn, have dropped to the 50th percentile or lower, signaling improved fuel moisture levels.
• Fire activity has remained minimal in recent weeks across the region.
• Weather outlooks for the next 6 to 10 days and monthly forecasts predict continued monsoon activity in northeastern Arizona.
• Resource availability for fire response remains adequate should any new fires occur.
These combined factors support a coordinated, region-wide decision to lift fire restrictions. However, increased rain does not eliminate all fire risk. Residents and visitors are urged to continue practicing fire safety and responsible land use.

Fire Safety Reminders:
* Never leave campfires or debris burns unattended.
* Fully extinguish all fires until cold to the touch using the “drown, stir, feel” method.
* Be aware of local fire regulations at all times.
* Littering of smoking materials is always prohibited.

As restrictions are lifted, we also kindly ask for your help in removing old fire restriction signage, flyers, and notices that may still be posted around communities. Clearing out outdated materials helps maintain a clean and accurate information environment.
The White Mountain Fire Coordinating Group sincerely thanks all residents and visitors for their support throughout this fire season. Your efforts have helped keep our forests, homes, and communities safe.

Residents in the area of 3093 Sunset Ln, Lakeside need to evacuate the area. GO NOW! Updates will be provided shortly, please follow public safety instructions to leave the area.

Lewis Canyon Piles prescribe burn map.

SPRINGERVILLE, Ariz. – January 30, 2025 – Fire managers plan to continue prescribed fire operations on the Lakeside Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests between January 30 through January 31, 2025, as weather and vegetation conditions allow for successful operations.

The Lewis Canyon prescribed fire piles project is 2 acres of piles located directly south of Pinedale, Arizona in the Lewis Canyon Campground on Forest Road 130.

The objective of this prescribed fire project is to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations, minimize the risk of high-severity wildfires, and return the landscape to a more fire-resistant condition, aligning with the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy. The Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy aims to reduce wildfire risk to people, communities, and natural resources while sustaining and restoring healthy, resilient fire-adapted forests.

Smoke may be visible from the communities of Pinedale, Clay Springs, Vernon, the City of Show Low, Town of Pinetop-Lakeside, and along State Routes 77 and 260 and U.S. Highway 60. Smoke could last for several days after initial ignitions take place, but should be significantly less each day afterwards. We recognize that smoke can impact residents, visitors, and our fire personnel. We will continue to coordinate closely with our partners and communities to minimize smoke impacts as much as possible. The department’s Air Quality Division: Smoke Management webpage provides details about its air quality program. When smoke impacts are present, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality recommends that smoke sensitive individuals should reduce physical activity and stay indoors with windows and doors closed. For those who are unable to avoid smoke exposure, use of a particulate-filtering respirator mask can help. Real-time mapping of smoke and other air quality impacts is available at fire.airnow.gov. Visit the A-S National Forests website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf and follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs.

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