[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” make_fullwidth=”on” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” padding_mobile=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_post_title admin_label=”Post Title” title=”on” meta=”off” author=”off” date=”off” categories=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”on” featured_placement=”background” parallax_effect=”off” parallax_method=”on” text_orientation=”center” text_color=”light” text_background=”on” text_bg_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.56)” module_bg_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” title_all_caps=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
FLAGSTAFF \u2014 Dry pine needles and dead wood snapped under fire prevention officer Matt Engbring\u2019s boots as he hiked a half-mile into the woods in search of a makeshift campsite that had served as one man\u2019s home until this week when the area was closed because of the escalating threat of massive wildfires.<\/span><\/p>\n Engbring walked past small ravines where wind quickly could carry embers and by the charred remains of a campfire, finally reaching the spot where John Dobson had been living among ponderosa pines in Arizona\u2019s Coconino National Forest.<\/span><\/p>\n He spotted Dobson earlier as he was leaving the forest with his bicycle and issued a warning that he\u2019ll likely repeat over the busy Memorial Day weekend as tourists flock to Arizona\u2019s cooler mountainous areas to hike, bike, camp and fish.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe area is closed now, and I can\u2019t allow you to go back in,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n Many parts of the West are dealing with drought, but nowhere has more state and federal land been closed to recreation than in Arizona, where conditions are ripe for large-scale wildfires. Portions of the Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino, Kaibab and Tonto national forests are closed because the dry vegetation quickly can go up in flames, firefighters would have a hard time stopping it, and homes and water resources are at risk.<\/span><\/p>\n In neighboring New Mexico, fire restrictions are in place, but no forests have closed. Forest officials in the western part of that state have suspended woodcutting permits, including ceremonial wood gathering by Native American tribes. They\u2019ve also warned the public to look out for hungry bears.<\/span><\/p>\n Forests in southern Colorado and southern Utah are open but officials are limiting campfires to developed areas.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cA lot of our rural, small communities depend on recreation and access to public land, so it\u2019s on the table but really an option of last resort,\u201d said Holly Krake, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service<\/span><\/p>\n Weather over the next six weeks is expected to be in line with the typical onset of fire season: increasingly hot, breezy and dry. Then the monsoon and its heavy rain should kick in.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe bottom line is it\u2019s going to get worse before it gets better,\u201d said Rich Naden, fire weather meteorologist with the Southwest Coordination Center. \u201cBut this time of year is always like that. It\u2019s almost like clockwork.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Widespread forest closures in Arizona are rare. The 1.8 million-acre Coconino National Forest shut down completely because of fire danger in 2006 for nine days. A 2002 shutdown lasted nine weeks, encompassing the Memorial Day and July 4 holidays. Other national forests had closures in 2002 as well.<\/span><\/p>\n The current closures are affecting a small percentage of national forests in Arizona, and the general guidance for tourists is to check ahead of time to see what\u2019s open and whether campfires are allowed.<\/span><\/p>\n Beyond inconveniencing campers and hikers, the drought\u2019s effects and forest closures are being felt by ranchers who can\u2019t graze cattle in the forest and researchers who can\u2019t conduct studies. Forest thinning projects also are delayed.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n Re-bloged<\/p>\n