Fire restrictions lifted for Coconino County, Kaibab National Forest and others
Fire restrictions across the state, many put in place because of recent wildfires, will be lifted just in time for the 4th of July.
On Monday afternoon, The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management released a statement on Twitter announcing that fire restrictions in the southeastern part of the state, which includes Cochise, Pima, Greenlee and Santa Cruz counties, would be relaxed.
The department pointed to increased rain in the forecast as the reasoning behind the decision, saying in the statement that a rise in precipitation and fuel moisture both lower the chances of wildfires.
#AZForestry & federal partners lifting fire restrictions, today 6/27, in SE #AZ. This includes State Trust Lands w/n Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, & Santa Cruz Counties. Please continue to be fire safe when working or playing outdoors. Do your part to prevent fires. #AZFire pic.twitter.com/HU3QjyYZ6G
— AZ State Forestry (@azstateforestry) June 28, 2022
On Tuesday, the northern part of the state began to follow the department's lead, with the Kaibab National Forest and Coconino National Forest announcing via tweets that they too lowered restrictions. In a statement, Coconino National Forest noted that while most restrictions would be lifted, closures around the Pipeline and Haywire fires would remain intact, though they've been reduced in size as containment grows.
Due to significant precipitation received across the Coconino National Forest, fire restrictions and certain area closures will be lifted starting at noon.
— Coconino NF (@CoconinoNF) June 28, 2022
Arizona Snowbowl also announced it would reopen on Wednesday.
Flagstaff Mayor Paul Deasy disagreed with this decision, tweeting that fire restrictions should last until after the holiday weekend.
Fire restrictions are being lifted tomorrow. Know that this is not my authority, and I have been strongly advocating to keep fire restrictions in place until after 4th of July weekend. Fireworks should not be allowed in city limits any time of year.
— Flagstaff Mayor Paul Deasy (@MayorDeasy) June 28, 2022
Meteorologist Marc Singer, with Tucson National Weather Service, said lifting fire restrictions when the state is entering its monsoon season, which lasts from July through September, is pretty typical.
"As thunderstorms and rain become more widespread and more common, it's normal for places to pull back on some of their restrictions," he said.
Recent rain, he said, makes the ground less likely to catch fire. Lightning strikes and wayward firework sparks pose less of a risk -- though not zero, Singer warned. It's still important to take responsible safety measures.
The department acknowledged this in its statement, reminding Arizonans to take precautions around campfires, firearms, and torches, among other things, and noting that fireworks are never permitted on federal or state lands.
Reach criminal justice reporter Gloria Rebecca Gomez at grgomez@gannett.com or on Twitter @glorihuh.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Fire restrictions lifted in southeast Arizona in time for 4th of July