A group of U.S. senators say the Forest Service has fallen behind in wildfire prevention work like forest thinning which has been deemed vital to preventing billions of dollars of damage to regions in Arizona surrounded by national forests.
In their letter to the Forest Service chief, the Democratic senators said the agency’s assessment that it’s been ahead in reducing hazardous fuels doesn’t tell the full story because it uses fiscal year data and that includes the latter part of 2024 to make the claim about success this year. The senators say the agency is actually behind by nearly 40% compared to the previous four.
"Through September of calendar year 2025, only 1.7 million acres received hazardous fuels reduction treatment, a decline from the four-year average of 3.6 million acres," they wrote in the letter.
Reduction involves projects like forest thinning which has been broadly used in Coconino National Forest to reduce the severity of wildfires. An NAU report estimates Flagstaff would see nearly $3 billion in loss from a catastrophic fire.
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The Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim is now under Stage 1 fire restrictions, meaning visitors are allowed to light camp fires in designated areas at maintained campgrounds. -
Officials have lifted fire restrictions for the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, citing increased moisture and cooler temperatures. -
The state’s two largest fires, the Sycamore and Pocket fires, are approaching containment. But state officials warn that risks could persist as monsoon activity is beginning to pick up. -
Communities in Colorado and Utah are reporting drops in tourism as fires burn nearby and smoke floats in. -
This year's already strong El Niño is strengthening, a trend with potentially significant implications for the intense – and now tragic – fire season.
