La Paz County moves into Stage 2 fire restrictions as wildfire risk rises
Stage 2 restrictions now ban campfires, smoking outside vehicles, torch work and most target shooting across La Paz County lands as fire danger climbs.
Desert travelers in Parker, Quartzsite, Bouse and Ehrenberg had to shift plans as Stage 2 fire restrictions took effect across La Paz County public lands, tightening rules on camping, off-roading, work crews and shooting along the Colorado River corridor. The new limits took effect Thursday, May 21, at 8 a.m., after fire managers said hotter, drier weather had already pushed wildfire danger higher across central and western Arizona.
On BLM-managed land, the restrictions barred campfires, charcoal, coal or wood stoves, smoking outside enclosed vehicles or buildings, welding and torch work, and the use of chainsaws and other internal-combustion tools. Discharging firearms was also restricted, except for lawful hunting, and that rule covered the Bureau of Land Management’s developed recreational shooting sites at Baldy Mountain, Box Canyon, Church Camp Road and Saddleback Mountain. Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns and heaters with shut-off devices were still allowed, but only when used carefully on a clear, stable surface.
The Bureau of Land Management said the seasonal rules applied to BLM-managed lands in La Paz, Maricopa, Yavapai, Yuma, southern Mohave, northern and western Pinal, and western Pima counties. The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management put Stage 2 restrictions on State Trust lands in La Paz and Yuma counties, where the agency said campfires were not allowed at all. Fireworks and exploding targets remained prohibited year-round on federally managed lands in Arizona.
Fire managers said wildfire activity had already increased and was expected to peak as conditions turned hotter and drier in the months ahead. The state forestry department described Stage 2 as a stricter middle step between Stage 1 and a full closure, with restrictions typically staying in place until monsoon season brings enough humidity and moisture to slow fire behavior.
The rules also showed how quickly the outlook can change in western Arizona. The BLM lifted similar seasonal restrictions in central and western Arizona effective Sept. 5, 2025, after increased precipitation and higher fuel moisture lowered wildfire risk. For La Paz County, the new order meant anyone heading onto desert land had to treat sparks, flames and engine use as potential ignition sources until weather conditions improved enough for managers to relax the ban.
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