FREDONIA — Due to increasing fire danger, Stage 1 Fire and Smoking Restrictions will go into effect beginning 6:00 a.m. Thursday, July 11, 2024 on the North Kaibab Ranger District – all Kaibab National Forest lands north of the Grand Canyon. The North Kaibab received less rain from recent storms than the Williams and Tusayan Districts south of the Grand Canyon, which will not go into restrictions at this time.
Under Stage 1 restrictions, fires, campfires, charcoal, coal, and wood stoves are prohibited, except in developed recreation sites. Smoking is also prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or a developed recreation site.
Using a stove or grill that is solely fueled by pressurized liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off is allowed in areas that are barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within three feet of the stove or grill.
The Kaibab’s fire restrictions do not prohibit target shooting. However, all existing regulations for discharging a firearm on public lands still apply.
Additional restrictions may be necessary in the future. Fire restrictions typically remain in effect until the area receives enough widespread precipitation to significantly lower the fire danger.
Fire restrictions are implemented to help prevent human-caused fires and to limit the exposure of visitors during periods of potentially dangerous fire conditions. Decisions about fire restrictions are based on a combination of carefully measured factors. Criteria used to determine when to implement restrictions include current and predicted weather, fuel moisture, fire activity levels, enduring drought, and available firefighting resources.
The public is reminded to always be extra cautious when recreating on public lands, regardless of restrictions. Fireworks and explosives are always prohibited and leaving a campfire unattended is illegal all year round.
Violations could result in mandatory appearance in a federal court, fines, or jail time.
State and federal fire restrictions can be found at wildlandfire.az.gov/fire-restrictions. Additional information about the stages of fire restrictions, Forest Orders, and general forest conditions are available at fs.usda.gov/kaibab.