Wildfire Precautions on Public Lands

By Sam Frank, AWC Central Arizona Director

Wildfire.

Just the word can evoke a mixture of emotions for most people: fear of the destruction wildfires can cause; respect for the role fire plays in many of our natural environments here in Arizona; and, of course, sorrow for the loss of places and people who have been victims of wildfire. Regardless of the feelings people have for wildfires, one fact unites everyone in this state: wildfires have been and always will be a part of Arizona.

When I spend time out in wilderness areas, the imprint of wildfires is often present. In fact, there have been a few Wild Stew trips where volunteers and I put out abandoned campfires – still burning. The most recent one was in Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness almost exactly one week before the Slide Fire erupted burning over 20,000 acres of land. Sometimes, the results after a wildfire appear to be absolute decimation. Other times, the landscape seems to be bursting with renewed life. Some plants, such as manzanita, are adapted to fire and actually have an advantage over other plants when fires occur. Unfortunately, when wildfires mix with civilization the outcome is almost always a loss for people and their possessions. So, it seems that here in Arizona we need to strike a balance and learn to prevent human-caused wildfires and manage and live with naturally occurring wildfires.

Managing and living with naturally occurring wildfires requires the heroic efforts of firefighters, the academic rigors of scientists, and the open-mindedness and bravery of citizens. This is a massive, cooperative effort that will require constant effort and adaptation. On the other hand, preventing human-caused wildfires is an effort that everyone can contribute to on a regular basis. We might be in monsoon season now, but being fire savvy is a year round job. Here are a few tips from the Arizona Interagency Wildfire Prevention website:

• Check for fire restrictions: http://firerestrictions.us/az/ or call 1-877-864-6985
• Do not park vehicles where vegetation touches the undercarriage and could ignite
• Use and maintain spark arresters on motorized equipment such as chain saws and ATVs
• The use of fireworks and explosives are prohibited on public lands in Arizona year-round
• Certain levels of fire restrictions prohibit recreational shooting on public lands
• Tracer rounds and exploding targets are prohibited on public lands in Arizona year-round
• Create defensible space around homes and buildings