Stage 1 fire and smoking restrictions are set to kick in Friday morning on state trust lands across parts of central Arizona, as agencies move to get ahead of a recent bump in wildfire activity. The order clamps down on open flames, smoking and fireworks on state-managed lands in Maricopa, Gila and Pinal counties and will stay in place until it is officially lifted. Officials say the goal is to cut down on human-caused starts and protect both the public and firefighters as conditions dry out.
The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management announced the move and said the rules begin Friday at 8 a.m. and apply to State Trust lands outside incorporated municipalities, Game and Fish wildlife areas and State Parks outside city limits, according to Pinal County. The restrictions will remain in effect until the agency rescinds them. Law enforcement officers and organized firefighting personnel are exempt when acting in the line of duty.
Why officials moved now
State and local officials are pointing to hot, dry weather and an uptick in human-caused fires this spring as the trigger for the order, including fast-moving blazes that forced evacuations in Wickenburg earlier this week. "It's going to be hot and dry today and throughout the rest of the week," a DFFM official told Arizona's Family, which has been tracking high fire danger across the state.
What the ban covers
Under Stage 1, building, maintaining or using a campfire, charcoal, coal or wood stove outside a developed campsite or picnic area is off-limits. Devices fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG are still allowed, but only if they can be turned off and are used in an area cleared of flammable materials for at least three feet. Smoking is limited to inside buildings or enclosed vehicles, at developed recreation sites, or while stopped in a cleared three-foot area. The order also bans fireworks and welding or operating torch devices with open flames, and any other exemptions must be approved by the State Forester, according to Pinal County.
Where the rules apply and what to check
The restrictions cover all State Trust lands outside cities, Department of Transportation right-of-way property and Game and Fish Commission properties outside municipal boundaries. State Parks remain open but will operate under the new limitations, per Arizona State Parks. Before heading out, recreators are urged to check the Arizona Interagency Wildfire Prevention portal or download the DFFM mobile app for maps and the latest orders.
Enforcement and exemptions
Local law enforcement and fire agencies will handle enforcement, and any local jurisdictions with stricter rules will continue to apply those standards. The orders do not extend to private lands under state law. The state forester retains broad authority to prevent and suppress wildfires under Arizona Revised Statutes §37-1303.
