Fire Ban for Phoenix Preserve Land Starts on May 1

April 30, 2019

The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department will ban open fires in the city’s desert and mountain preserves starting on Wednesday, May 1. The annual ban goes into effect in conjunction with the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department’s annual fire ban.

In consultation with the Phoenix Fire Department, smoking and charcoal fires are included in the ban due to the extreme fire danger that the combination of low humidity, increasing temperatures and frequent high winds create each spring.

The ban applies to Camelback Mountain, Deems Hills Recreation Area, Papago Park, Phoenix Mountains Park and Recreation Area, Phoenix Mountains Preserve, Phoenix Sonoran Preserve, North Mountain Park, Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, and South Mountain Park/Preserve. The ban does not apply to traditional city parks.

For those using the preserves, the fire ban stipulates the following:

Open, wood and charcoal fires are prohibited in any part of Phoenix’s preserve land
Smoking outside of enclosed vehicles continues to be prohibited
Propane or gas grills may be used, but only in established picnic areas

Motorists traveling through or near Phoenix desert or mountain preserves should use extreme care with smoking materials and dispose of those only in their vehicle’s ash tray.

To protect their homes, residents whose property borders the preserves may remove dry shrubs, brush and grasses, and trim dead branches from trees within the 10-foot strip of preserve bordering their property. By creating this 10-foot “buffer zone,” residents can help to protect their homes from brush fires in the adjacent preserve. Preserve neighbors also should check irrigation lines and pool back-flush hoses to ensure that water is not seeping into the preserve. Outside water sources encourage unnaturally dense vegetation growth, which increases fire risk.

For general information regarding removing vegetation, residents can contact a Phoenix Park Ranger at 602-495-5458 or natural.resources.pks@phoenix.gov.

As temperature increases and humidity drops this time of year, those enjoying the city’s desert and mountain preserves should use extra caution. Heat-related illnesses are common from May to October, and generally occur because the victim has been overexposed to heat or overexerted their body based on physical condition or age.

The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department and Phoenix Fire Department remind trail users to “Take a Hike. Do it Right.” View a pre-hiking checklist and hiking safety tips.

For the safety of pets, dogs are prohibited on any city of Phoenix trail when the temperature is 100 degrees or warmer.

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