Fire Management

The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests is a cooperator of the White Mountain Fire Restrictions Coordination Group. This group also consists of Bureau of Indian Affairs, Navajo and Apache Counties, Northern AZ Fire Chiefs Association, Northern AZ Police Chiefs Association, National Park Service, and AZ Department of Forestry. Representatives from this group meet once a week or more if needed, at the beginning and throughout fire season to decide on when/if/what level of fire restrictions will be implemented. Decisions are based on a multitude of considerations such as, but not limited to: 7 day weather outlook, monthly weather outlook, availability of wildland fire resources, how many fires are occurring, and current fire danger. As soon as the group decides fire restrictions should be implemented, the public and fire managers will be notified, and the same restrictions will be implemented across the White Mountains.

Fire Restrictions come in different stages and become more prohibitive with each stage. Most forests begin by implementing a Stage I Restriction and if conditions worsen, Stage II is implemented. There is no "Stage III" when conditions worsen further. Instead, a forest closure is usually the next step which means the public is not allowed to enter the boundaries of the national forest due to the fire danger.

What is Prohibited:

• No building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal or wood stove, except in designated developed recreation sites.
• No smoking except in an enclosed vehicle or building.  
• No welding or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame.
• No fireworks, explosives or tracer rounds are permitted on national forest lands at any time.

What is Allowed:

Petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns, or heating devices providing such devices meet the fire underwriter’s specification for safety, can be turned on/off and operated in areas that are barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of the device.

• Target shooting is allowed, but not: 
  • In or within 150 yards from a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation area or occupied area.
  • Across or on a national forest or grassland road or body of water.
  • In any manner or place where any person or property is exposed to injury or damage as a result of such discharge.
  • Into or within a cave.
  • Firing tracer bullets or incendiary ammunition.
  • Disturbing, injuring, destroying, or in any way damaging any prehistoric, historic, or archaeological resource, structure, site, artifact, property.
  • Abandoning any personal property or failing to dispose of all garbage, including targets, paper, cans, bottles, appliances.

What is Prohibited:

The Stage II fire restrictions will prohibit the following:

• Igniting, building, maintaining, or using a fire, including charcoal and briquettes.
• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three (3) feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of any flammable material.

THE FOLLOWING ACTS ARE PROHIBITED FROM 9:00 A.M. TO 8:00 P.M.:

• Operating a generator, chainsaw or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine for felling, bucking, skidding, processing, road building and woodcutting during industrial operations or fire wood gathering capable of igniting a fire.
• Using an explosive.
• Blasting, welding, or operating any acetylene or other torch with an open flame.

What is Allowed:

Exemptions:

• Persons with a written Forest Service authorization specifically exempting them from the effect of this Order.
• Persons using a stove or grill that is solely fueled by pressurized liquid petroleum or pressurized liquid petroleum gas (LPG) fuels.
• Persons operating generators with an approved spark arresting device in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of the generator.
• Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of official duty

Fireworks and explosives, including exploding targets, are never allowed on national forests.

• The number one reason is to protect human life, property and our natural resources. The smallest spark can turn our dry forest into a dangerous wildfire that can threaten lives and property.
• We use certain criteria to determine what stage of fire restrictions to implement, which includes current and predicted weather, how many resources we have available to fight fires, fuel moisture in the forest, fire behavior and containment challenges, as well as several others.
• Regardless of what level of fire restrictions we implement, not all fires can be prevented. Fires start from careless forest users, lightning, and inadvertent human-causes. We live in a fire-adapted ecosystem which depends on fire for its health, so it's never a question of if a wildfire will start, but when and how we will be able to respond to it.

Red Flag Warning is a term used by fire weather forecasters to alert fire personnel and the public of potential extreme and critical fire weather due to high winds and low relative humidity. Only the National Weather Service can issue Red Flag Warnings.

Warnings are issued one 24 hour period at a time, have a beginning and end time, and are issued only when ALL the following three criteria are met:

• Wind speeds are expected to exceed 20mph.
• Relative humidity is 15% or lower.
• Fire danger rating of High, Very High, or Extreme.

To find out if it’s a Red Flag Day: Call Show Low Dispatch Center (928) 532-2700 or visit the NOAA's weather alert page. 

Activities NOT recommended during a Red Flag Day include:

• Building, maintaining, or attending a fire or campfire. *Propane heating and cooking devices are permissible.
• Smoking outside a vehicle or a building.
• Vehicle use off roads or trails.
• Driving a vehicle without an approved spark arresting device.
• Operating an internal combustion engine (unless the equipment has an approved spark arresting device AND is in an area completely devoid of vegetation) i.e. chainsaws, generators, hot saws, skidders, and other recreational or industrial equipment.
• Welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame.

If you’re not sure if it’s a Red Flag Warning Day, error on the side of caution by avoiding all prohibited activities.

Sometimes there are no fire restrictions on the national forests, but there is a Red Flag Warning in effect. In this scenario, folks would not be able to have a campfire or charcoal fire. The only scenario visitors can have fires without any prohibitions is when there is no Red Flag Warning and no fire restrictions.  

In the southwest, plants and animals have evolved with fire as a natural part of the ecosystem. For thousands of years, small lightning-caused fires have moved through southwestern forests burning along the ground, thinning out smaller pines, consuming accumulated needles, and leaving behind nutrient-rich ash that stimulated the growth of grasses and wildflowers. This continuous cycle of fire and regeneration continued unchecked until civilization began to encroach upon the forests. Fire was viewed as a threat to early settlements in the west, and all fires were aggressively suppressed.

In more recent times, forest managers have observed how forests have changed due to the exclusion of fire, and have gained an understanding of fire’s importance in forest health. Without natural fire, more seedlings have survived to maturity, resulting in a denser and less healthy forest. Also, more needles and debris have accumulated due to the exclusion of fire, resulting in an increased fire danger.

Prescribed fire addresses these problems by approximating natural fire and reducing the amount of hazardous fuels. Prescribed fire is needed today to replenish soil nutrients, stimulate new growth, and to maintain biological diversity; all of which contribute to a healthy forest. In addition to a healthier forest, another benefit resulting from prescribed fire and a healthier forest is a reduction in fire danger for our communities. Areas treated with prescribed fire are less likely to burn intensely during a wildfire and allow a wildfire to be brought under control more easily.

While prescribed fire has proven to be successful in improving forest health and reducing the danger of catastrophic wildfires, there is a side effect: smoke. Air quality considerations are an integral part of prescribed fire for forest managers, and each fire prescription is formulated in order to disperse smoke rapidly and reduce lingering haze. Before each prescribed fire is ignited, forest managers must get approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). Additionally, a current weather report is obtained in order to ensure that weather conditions are conducive to smoke management and a safe burn. It is the goal of forest managers to minimize smoke impacts to our communities while still accomplishing forest health and fuels reduction goals. Yet, even in favorable conditions the air will still become smoky. Much like people who live in deserts can expect extreme temperatures in the summer, people who live in and around the forest should expect some smoke in the cooler months when weather conditions allow for low intensity burning.

Today we understand the importance of fire in our forests. Prescribed fire is the result of that understanding and represents just one of the many tools used by forest managers to improve the health of our forests and to reduce the threat of wildfire to our communities. Our forests need fire, and by planning fire prescriptions we can maximize the chance that these fires will burn on our terms.

Reduces fuel build-up. Dead wood, overcrowded, unhealthy trees, and thick layers of pine needles can all contribute to catastrophic wildfires including crown fires. Prepares the land for new growth. When excess vegetation or needle layers are burned off, nitrogen and other nutrients are released into the soil and become available for new plants to grow. Helps certain plants/trees germinate. Many native plant and forest communities have adapted to fire for their germination and growth. Seed contact with soil (such as that exposed by a fire) is necessary for some species to naturally regenerate. Naturally thins overcrowded forests. Historically, natural fire thinned the forests. Thinned forests can recover faster and are more resistant to insect and disease attacks. Currently, many of the mature forests are overcrowded, resulting in a lack of vigor and health. Creates diversity needed by wildlife. Fire provides diverse habitat for plants and animals. Grazing wildlife such as Elk and Deer benefit from new growth as shrubs produce edible leaves when re-sprouting after a fire.

• The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) monitors air quality and determines whether or not it will be a good day for smoke dispersion. Prescribed burns conducted on U.S. Forest Service lands are approved through ADEQ before ignition begins. Although smoke from prescribed fire can still be noticeable, it is usually for a shorter time and considerably less smoke than most wildfires produce.
• A team of meteorologists at ADEQ examine the weather conditions to determine smoke dispersion, potential impacts, and other variables for each prescribed burn to approve or disapprove the given burn.
• To view a listing of approved daily burns that are permitted by ADEQ (or acknowledged by ADEQ in the case of tribes) visit the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

• Residents can view air quality across the state using ADEQ’s Portable Particulate Monitor network.
• Apache County residents with health concerns may contact the Apache County Public Health Services District in St. Johns at 928-337-7607.
• Navajo County residents may contact Navajo County Public Health Services at 928- 524-4750 in Holbrook or 928-532-6050 in Show Low.
• ADEQ welcomes and appreciates information/concerns from the public regarding air quality conditions observed on the ground. The online complaint form is a straightforward way for residents to voice their concerns. Complaints are most helpful and effective when they include detailed information about smoke, including times when the smoke impacts began, and ended (if applicable).
  • ADEQ’s online complaint form.