Phoenix Temporarily Bans Fires At Many Hiking Spots

By Stina Sieg
Published: Sunday, May 14, 2017 - 3:35pm
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Nadine Arroyo Rodriguez/KJZZ
Fires will be banned until October at spots like Papago Park and Camelback Mountain.

Starting next week, Phoenix will prohibit open fires in desert and mountain preserves across the city. The ban will last until mid-October.

Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department and Fire Department say it’s meant to cut down the high risk of fire during these upcoming hot and dry summer months. Traditional city parks will not be affected. Instead, the ban will apply to many of the main mountain and hiking destinations in Phoenix. That includes Camelback Mountain, Papago Park and the Sonoran Preserve.

The fire ban is part of a broader summer safety plan in Phoenix that also includes a new rule banning dogs on city trails when temperatures exceed 100 degrees.