Fire Bans Lifted In Northern Arizona

Published: Tuesday, July 8, 2014 - 4:20pm

The Coconino and Kaibab National Forests in northern Arizona lifted all fire restrictions at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Spokesman Brady Smith said the monsoon storms that began over the Independence Day holiday weekend rapidly ended what had been extreme wildfire danger.

“We received a lot of precipitation, at least half an inch across over two-thirds of the forest, and that’s one of the criteria," Smith said. "And we’ve met that criteria and we’re pretty comfortable with lifting the fire restrictions at this point."

Smith said they’re also reopening the Williams Mountain Watershed, which had been closed to the public, due to the high potential for a devastating wildfire.