The Big Story: Arizona restrictions in place for wildfire season

PHOENIX (AP) — With wildfire danger in Arizona increasing because of higher temperatures and lower humidity, the state’s land managers have begun the first major public land restrictions this year.

Restrictions on the nearly 3-million-acre Tonto National Forest in central Arizona went into effect Thursday, and the 120,000 acres of Maricopa County’s ten-park system will be under a fire ban starting Monday. Phoenix mountain parks also banned open fires starting Monday.

It’s still too early to tell whether public lands will be closed entirely this season — something land managers have done in past years. But Arizonans can bet on more restrictions throughout the state as the wildfire season ripens.

“This is just the beginning,” said Jim Payne, spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service’s southwestern region.

Tonto officials are banning campfires across most of the forest. Fires will be allowed in provided campfire rings in some desert areas.

Tonto spokeswoman Emily Garber said forest officials wanted the restrictions in place well before Memorial Day. “The vast majority of fires on national forests are human-caused, so if we can nip that in the bud early, we’re hoping to be in much better shape,” she said.

R.J. Cardin, director of Maricopa County Parks and Recreation, said the fire bans in county parks are going into effect a couple weeks earlier than last year, citing the wet winter that produced tall grasses that are now dry.

“We’re concerned,” he said. “With all the rain we had there seems to be an inordinate amount of vegetation out there, a rather large fire load.”

The Prescott National Forest plans to begin some fire restrictions Wednesday. The Bureau of Land Management also will begin fire restrictions on 2.5 million acres of public lands along the Colorado River in Arizona and California starting Wednesday.

Wildfire officials say they’re still making last-minute preparations for large wildfires, but are ready if one starts.

Five heavy air tankers now in New Mexico are available to Arizona, and the state plans to contract with four to six single-engine air tankers this season. Hundreds of fire engines and thousands of firefighters, including about 260 Hot Shots, also are available.