Apache and Navajo counties to begin Stage 1 fire restrictions Tuesday
Campfires, fireworks and outdoor smoking were restricted across Apache and Navajo counties as dry forests and rising fire danger pushed officials into Stage 1.
Campfires, fireworks and outdoor smoking were restricted across much of Apache and Navajo counties as Stage 1 fire rules took effect at 6 a.m. Tuesday, forcing residents, campers and businesses to change how they handle any outdoor ignition source.
The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests said the order began because dry conditions had spread throughout the forests and fire danger had climbed. The restriction runs through Sept. 30, 2026 unless it is rescinded sooner, and the forest order says its purpose is to protect public health and safety during periods of high or extreme fire danger in an area with very limited escape routes.
Under Stage 1, people cannot build, maintain, attend or use a fire or campfire outside the allowed exemptions. Smoking is prohibited outside designated areas, and the order also bans fireworks, explosive targets, tracer rounds and incendiary ammunition. Propane fire rings, approved pellet stoves, smokers and grills remain allowed in some cases if they are contained and properly supervised.
The restrictions apply in unincorporated areas of Apache County and Navajo County, while other agencies and local governments moved to adopt similar rules with some variation. The White Mountain Fire Restrictions Coordinating Group includes the White Mountain Apache Tribe, the Arizona Bureau of Land Management, Arizona State Forestry, Apache County, Navajo County, the City of Heber-Overgaard, the City of Show Low, the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside and the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.
The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management also put Stage 1 restrictions in place for State Trust lands in Apache and Navajo counties beginning Tuesday at 8 a.m. DFFM said current and forecast weather, fuel moisture, lingering drought conditions and an uptick in fire activity helped trigger the move, and the agency said restrictions typically remain until Arizona moves into monsoon season.
The warning carries real weight across the White Mountains, where the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests cover more than 2 million acres, include about 24 lakes and reservoirs and stretch across elevations from about 3,500 feet to more than 11,000 feet. That terrain, along with windy, low-humidity fire weather, can turn a single spark into a fast-moving blaze. Forest officials also noted that fire restrictions escalate in stages from Stage 1 to Stage 2 and then to a full forest closure, while a red flag warning signals extreme and critical fire weather conditions.
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