Red Flag Warnings and Fire Season in Flagstaff

Each year around this time, Flagstaff gets a series of "Red Flag" days, which are notices from the Forest Service that the danger for wildfire is extremely high due to the combination of very little moisture and high winds. Smoking, use of live ammunition and campfires are prohibited on Forest Service land during these times. Generally, the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County impose similar (or identical) restrictions.
For instance, any restriction by the Forest Service also means smoking bans on the Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS). The city and county post signs to notify users and law enforcement personnel strictly enforce these warnings.

As we live in the largest contiguous Ponderosa Pine forest in the Continental United States - we take fire danger very seriously. When they get out of hand, fires can get very big very fast.

Schultz Fire, 2010

These Red Flag restrictions typically last until the beginning of the Monsoon season (first few weeks of July) depending on how much moisture we receive.

Fire Danger, Industrial Plan, Preparedness Level and Fire Restrictions FIRE RESTRICTIONS begin Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 8 a.m.  Fires are never allowed at Fossil Creek anywhere; never allowed in Oak Creek Canyon (except in developed campgrounds and recreation areas), and the temporary fire restriction in the Mt. Elden, Dry Lake Hills area is currently still in effect.

You can keep up to date with fire restrictions at http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=stelprdb5339077

Or at the Coconino Forest Service Twitter account: CoconinoNF