The U.S. Forest Service has expanded a camping and campfire ban around Flagstaff to reduce the risk of human-caused fires in northern Arizona.
The ban went into effect Monday and will remain in place for two years.
The agency’s map describes an area running from south of Flagstaff all the way up to the Kachina Peaks Wilderness on the north side of the Coconino National Forest. national forest.
The prohibition includes fires outside of designated fire structures and camping outside of developed campgrounds.
The agency said the decision to expand the restricted use areas came after input from the public.
Last year’s 26,000-acre Pipeline Fire was ignited after a man camping in the forest burned his used toilet paper. And the Tunnel Fire, which burned 26,000 acres and 30 homes, remains under investigation.
