High fire risk prompts Mohave County to implement outdoor fire and fireworks ban

Mohave County is implementing outdoor fire and permissible consumer fireworks use prohibitions in the unincorporated areas of the county, effective 4:00 p.m., June 28, 2024, due to current and continued hazardous fire risk conditions within Mohave County that include high temperatures, dry conditions (low relative humidity levels), low fuel moisture levels and sustained winds that can include gusts.

Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Hildy Angius signed a Proclamation dated June 28, 2024 implementing the prohibitions. The prohibitions were recommended by the Mohave County Risk and Emergency Management Department, which issued a Determination of Fire Emergency for all four Fire Zones in the County on June 28, 2024.

This Determination was issued after the assessment of recent, current, and expected fire conditions and risks and included consultation with the fire departments in the County and other State and Federal Fire Officials.

The prohibitions, with the exemptions listed below, apply to all open fires, campfires, and permissible consumer fireworks use in the unincorporated area of the County, which excludes lands under the jurisdiction of the United States, the State of Arizona, or Indian Tribes.

The Bureau of Land Management Colorado River District and the Arizona Forestry and Fire Management Department will remain in Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. Specific information relating to fire restrictions in Arizona can be found at wildlandfire.az.gov.

The Mohave County Risk and Emergency Management Department strongly encourages county residents to be constantly alert to the fire danger, respect the prohibitions, and take all precautions to avoid accidently igniting a vegetation fire. Aside from open fire and fireworks ignitions, many fires are ignited along roadways due to improper
disposal of smoking materials.

Violations of the prohibitions, which were implemented under the authority of Mohave County Ordinance 2013-04, are considered Class 2 misdemeanors subject to fines not to exceed $750 and/or terms of imprisonment not to exceed 4 months.

The following fires are exempt from the Outdoor Fire Prohibition enacted pursuant to the Proclamation:

1. Fires set or permitted by any public officer, federal, state or local, in the performance of the officer’s official duties.

2. Fires set or permitted by the State Entomologist or Mohave County agricultural agents for the purpose of disease and pest prevention.

3. Fires set or permitted by the United States, the State of Arizona, or any federally-recognized Indian tribe, or any of their respective departments, agencies or political subdivisions for the purpose of fire prevention or control, or watershed rehabilitation or control through vegetative manipulation.

4. Fires permitted by the Emergency Management Officer or designee. The conditions of the permit, including permitted dates and the nature of the burning shall be clearly stated on any such permit issued.

5. Fires fueled by propane or charcoal.

Questions can be directed to Emergency Management Manager Mike Browning at [email protected] or Risk and Emergency Management Director Joe Dorner at [email protected] . The Risk and Emergency Management Department number is 928-753-0739.