At today’s meeting of the White Mountain Fire Coordinating Group, emergency management, first responders, forest service and BLM personnel as well as other subject matter experts discussed the fire restrictions and fire events that occurred over the past week in our communities.

Representatives reported several violations of the Stage 1 Fire restrictions including:

16 local jurisdictional fire restriction violations (Cities, towns, etc.)

3 fire starts on the Apache-Sitgreaves Forests and over 20 camp fire violations

3 fire starts on the Fort Apache

Today, we are calling our community to action. We are asking that you become an information ambassador by sharing this message out on your social media platforms to ensure that the word is spread far and wide that we are in Stage 1 Fire Restrictions throughout the region.

The areas included in the restrictions at this time are: ALL unincorporated areas of Navajo and Apache Counties including the communities of Heber-Overgaard, Linden, Pinedale, Claysprings, Woodruff, Joseph City, White Mountain Lake, Sun Valley, Vernon, Greer, Alpine, Nutrioso and Concho. In addition, the municipalities of Eagar, Springerville, Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside are also under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions.

Further, most federal and state lands are under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions throughout the region including the Apache-Sitgreaves Forests, BIA/BLM lands, and State Trust lands outside of incorporated municipalities, all Game and Fish Commission Wildlife areas and department properties outside incorporated municipalities and all State Park Lands outside of incorporated municipalities.

Fire Restrictions prohibit the use of fireworks which are NEVER legal on the Apache-Sitgreaves Forests, BIA/BLM or State Trust lands and are illegal during fire restrictions in several towns, cities and unincorporated areas of the counties. For more information, contact your local fire department or law enforcement agency. You can also find more information on what is and is NOT allowed on www.311info.net under the Fire Restrictions tab.

Our law enforcement agencies have a ZERO tolerance attitude when we are in Fire Restrictions. You WILL at a minimum be cited for reckless endangerment and should you ignite a fire, you will also be responsible for all fire suppression costs.

So, this 4th of July let’s leave the Shows to the Pros and all have safe and wonderful holiday!