FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 26, 2025

Stage 1 fire restrictions starting Friday, February 28^th at 8:00 a.m.

Holbrook, AZ – On Tuesday, February 25th, the voting members of the White Mountain Fire Coordinating Group (WMFCG) convened to assess current forest conditions and weather patterns throughout the region. The members voted to recommend the enactment of Stage 1 fire restrictions in the unincorporated areas of Apache and Navajo Counties on Friday, February 28th, 2025, at 8:00 a.m.  Several other agencies, including the USFS Apache-Sitgreaves Forests, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, and select municipalities, will also implement similar restrictions.

While the restrictions are largely consistent across the region, some variations may apply depending on the jurisdiction. These restrictions apply to all individuals, including full-time residents, part-time residents, and visitors, therefore it is up to each individual to know the rules. Information and updates can be found under the Fire Restriction tab at www.311info.net.

Under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions The following acts are prohibited until further notice:

1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire (unless noted in the exemptions below).
2. Smoking outside of designated areas.
3. Use of any and all fireworks.
4. Use of explosive targets.
5. Use of tracer round ammunition.

Exemptions:

*An exemption does not absolve an individual or organization from liability or responsibility for any fire started by the exempted activity.

During Stage 1, the following acts are prohibited at all times unless an exemption is listed:

1. Igniting, building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire fueled by combustible materials such as wood, charcoal, briquettes, and/or coal.

Exemption: Fires fueled by combustible materials, such as wood, wood pellet smokers, charcoal, briquette, and/or coal, used only for the cooking of food or for providing warmth for human beings or for recreational purposes (campfires and charcoal fires) must be in Developed Site, as defined above.

Exemption: Use of the following items are permitted: propane fire rings, pellet stoves/smokers/grills that have UL or FM approval and are a contained unit. A person of appropriate age must always maintain a presence when in operation.

2. Smoking outdoors.

Exemption: Smoking within an enclosed vehicle is allowed. Smoking may also be allowed in or on porches, carports, garages, parking lots and other areas or properties which are cleared of all combustible materials so long as the smoking does not create a substantial risk of fire. All smoking materials must be and properly extinguished and disposed of in an appropriate manner. At no time is it allowed to discard lit cigarettes, cigars, or other smoking materials from a vehicle, or from ones’ possession in a public place. ARS 13-1603.a.1

3. Use of all consumer fireworks.

Exemption: None

4. Use of explosive targets, tracer rounds, and/or incendiary ammunition.

Exemption: None

Additional Exemptions During Stage 1:

• Emergency repair of public utilities and railroads as per attached conditions.
• Any Federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
• Other exemptions unique to each “Authority Having Jurisdiction”.

** An exemption does not absolve an individual or organization from liability or responsibility for any fire started by the exempted activity. A person who commits an act in violation of this chapter that results in an appropriate emergency response or investigation and who is convicted of the violation may be liable for the expenses that are incurred incident to the emergency response and the investigation of the commission of the offense in accordance with Arizona Revised Statute 13-1709; Emergency response and investigation costs; civil liability.

In light of the devastating wildfires experienced in California this year, we cannot stress enough that “preparedness is empowerment,” said Catrina Jenkins, Navajo County Emergency Manager. This includes creating defensible space on your property, hardening your home, gathering your important documents and placing them in one grab and go container, such as your Go Kit, or having them stored on a password protected flash drive or in the Cloud.  

Assistance from emergency personnel may not always be immediately available during a disaster, therefore it is critical for all residents, especially seniors and those with disabilities, to have a plan in place for protecting themselves, their families, and their pets.

For more information, please visit https://www.ready.gov/

“One less spark, means one less wildfire!”

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There will be NO BURNING tomorrow.

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 6 PM MST TUESDAY, February 11th, 2025.

• WHAT…Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph
  expected.
• WHERE…Mogollon Rim, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo
  County, Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County, and White
  Mountains. Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County-Little
  Colorado River Valley in Apache County-Western Mogollon Rim-
  Eastern Mogollon Rim-White Mountains- Including the cities of
  Holbrook, Heber, Show Low, Happy Jack, Forest Lakes, Greer,
  Springerville, Snowflake, St. Johns, Winslow and Pinetop/Lakeside.
• WHEN…From 11 AM to 6 PM MST Tuesday.
• IMPACTS…Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree
  limbs could snap resulting in a few power outages. Travel will be
  difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.
  PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
  Secure loose outdoor objects that could be blown around or damaged
  by the wind.
  Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high
  profile vehicles, such as RVs, campers, and tractor trailers. Use
  extra caution.

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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