Maricopa County Parks implemented its annual campfire ban Monday. This is the earliest the ban has been put into effect in 10 years.
Due to extremely dry brush and recent wildfires in Arizona, the ban was put into place a bit earlier this year. Parks spokeswoman Dawna Taylor says it usually waits until after Memorial Day.
“The ban includes campfires, fire pits and charcoal grills. However, you’re still allowed to use propane grills in designated areas such as the ramadas, semi-developed and developed campsites, and along the shoreline at Lake Pleasant Regional Park," she said.
If someone is caught with a campfire, Taylor says they’ll be asked to extinguish it and may be cited. She says the department hopes to allow campfires again by Labor Day weekend but that will depend on the amount of rainfall.
For more information, visit www.maricopacountyparks.net.
