State and federal public lands across western and central Arizona entered Stage 2 fire restrictions on Friday, May 23, prompted by hot and dry weather conditions.
Restrictions were already in effect on state, federal and tribal lands in eastern Arizona -- where the has been burning over the past 10 days -- and in southern Arizona.
Currently, most of Coconino County is not under fire restrictions. But the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, which overlaps the southeastern corner of the county, entered Stage 2 fire restrictions last week, and private property within the forest boundaries is subject to the same rules.
The new restrictions affect State of Arizona lands in Gila, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Yavapai and Yuma counties; and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in La Paz, Maricopa, southern Mohave, northern Pinal, western Pima, Yavapai and Yuma counties.
Under Stage 2 fire restrictions, campfires and charcoal fires are not allowed outside of developed recreation sites or improved sites. Portable liquid or gas-fueled stoves are allowed, as long as they possess a shutoff valve. Smoking is only allowed in an enclosed vehicle or building. Gas-fueled power tools or welding activities are prohibited.
Discharging a firearm is only allowed while engaged in a lawful, permitted hunt. This restriction also applies to recreational shooting sites in the BLM鈥檚 Phoenix District: Baldy Mountain, Box Canyon, Church Camp Road and Saddleback Mountain.
Fireworks are prohibited year-round on both BLM and state lands, and recreational target shooting is also prohibited year-round on state lands.
Additional information about statewide fire restrictions is available at . Specific information for Coconino County residents is available at .
Greer Fire update
As of Thursday, May 22, containment around the Greer Fire had reached nearly 90%. The fire ignited on May 13 and grew rapidly, fueled by high winds, before being contained at a final size of roughly 20,000 acres.
The cause remains under investigation.
Highway 260 has reopened in both directions, and evacuation orders for nearby communities have been lifted.