Phoenix bans open fires in mountain, desert preserves
May 12, 2017, 11:36 AM
(Pixabay Photo)
(Pixabay Photo)
PHOENIX — The city of Phoenix has banned open fires in mountain and desert preserves, joining Maricopa County parks’ burn restrictions.
The ban begins Monday and will remain in place until the middle of October. No wood or charcoal burning of any kind will be allowed at Camelback Mountain, Papago Park, North Mountain, Sonoran Preserve and Phoenix Mountains and South Mountain preserves. Cigarette and cigar smoking will also be prohibited unless the smoker is inside a vehicle, the city Parks and Recreation Department announced Thursday.
Propane and gas grills can be used but will be limited to established picnic areas.
Traditional city parks were not included in the fire ban.
Department officials cited fire danger because of rising temperatures and low humidity and advised property owners in those areas to “remove dry shrubs, brush and grasses, and trim dead branches from trees within the 10-foot strip” of preserve borders.
Earlier this week, Maricopa County Parks and Recreation said its fire ban was going into effect sooner than usual, also starting Monday.
The ban generally has begun around Memorial Day weekend.
The fire ban is part of a broader summer safety plan in Phoenix that also added a rule banning dogs on city trails when temperatures exceed 100 degrees.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
