COCONINO COUNTY — After consultation with Forest Lakes Fire District and the United States Forest Service (USFS), areas of Coconino County within the boundaries of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest are no longer under fire restrictions.
This decision, according to Coconino County’s Wildfire Defense Ordinance, applies to all private property within the boundaries of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. This includes the unincorporated community of Forest Lakes and all private campgrounds and recreation areas.
Based on significant improvement in forest conditions, the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest rescinded fire restrictions on Friday, July 25, 2025.
The remaining areas of the County have not experienced sufficient improvements to warrant a change in fire restriction stages. Remaining fire restrictions are:
- Stage 2 Restrictions – Coconino National Forest – All unincorporated lands within the boundaries of the Coconino National Forest.
- Stage 2 Restrictions – Kaibab National Forest – All unincorporated lands within the boundaries of the Williams Ranger District.
- Stage 1 Restrictions – Kaibab National Forest – All unincorporated lands within the boundaries of the Tusayan Ranger District and North Kaibab Ranger District.
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 a collaborative effort with area land management entities and 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.
During Stage 2 restrictions igniting, building, maintaining or using a fire fueled by combustible materials such as wood, charcoal, briquettes and/or coal are strictly prohibited. Using a device that is solely fueled by pressurized liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off is allowed only in a developed site. Smoking is also prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle or a developed site.
Additional prohibitions include the use of internal combustion engines for common household-only activities, such as landscaping or property maintenance and repair unless they are equipped with a spark arresting device. Stage 2 also prohibits welding and/or the use of acetylene or other torch with an open flame. The use of tracer or incendiary rounds of ammunition or explosive targets is also strictly prohibited.
A developed site is defined in the County’s Wildfire Defense Ordinance as an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding vegetation and combustible materials within a 15 foot radius of the device.
Additional restrictions could be forthcoming if conditions warrant. Fire restrictions typically remain in effect until the region receives significant, widespread precipitation.
The public is reminded to always be extra cautious when recreating on public lands, regardless of restrictions. Violations could result in fines and/or jail time.
For information on Coconino County’s Stage 1, 2, and 3 fire restrictions please visit: www.coconino.az.gov/firerestrictions.
Additional information about the stages of fire restrictions, Forest Orders, and general forest conditions are available for the Kaibab National Forest at fs.usda.gov/kaibab and the Coconino National Forest at fs.usda.gov/coconino.