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Ban On Open Fires In Phoenix Desert Parks, Mountain Preserves Starts Friday

The annual ban on open fires in Phoenix’s desert parks and mountain preserves goes into effect Friday. 

The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department will ban open, wood and charcoal fires, as well as outside smoking. Propane and gas grills can be used, but only at established picnic areas.  

In a warning to neighboring residents of desert parks and mountain preserves, the department says homeowners should remove dry shrubs, brush and grasses and create a 10-foot buffer zone by trimming dead tree branches on their property that border the parks. 

"For general information regarding removing vegetation, residents can contact a Phoenix Park Ranger at 602-495-5458 or  [email protected]," according to the City of Phoenix website.

The ban applies to the following places:

Camelback Mountain, Deem Hills Recreation Area, Papago Park, Phoenix Mountains Park and Recreation Area, Phoenix Mountains Preserve, Phoenix Sonoran Preserve, North Mountain Park, Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area and South Mountain Park/Preserve.

This ban does not apply to the city’s flatland parks.

More information can be found at  phoenix.gov/newsroom/parks-and-recreation/1171.

Jill Ryan joined KJZZ in 2020 as a morning reporter, and she is currently a field correspondent and Morning Edition producer.