Annual Fire Ban Initiated by Maricopa County and Phoenix Parks
In response to the looming summer heat and dry conditions, both the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department and the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department will enforce their annual fire ban starting Thursday, May 1, 2025. This measure aligns with the Air Quality Department’s regulations, which restrict outdoor fires from May 1 through September 30 across Maricopa County’s regional parks.
Jennifer Waller, Director of Maricopa County Parks and Recreation, emphasized the urgency of the ban, citing the below-average rainfall of 4.54 inches received in 2024, compared to the usual 7.36 inches. “With the summer heat quickly approaching and the vegetation as dry as it is, the parks are on high alert,” Waller stated. She noted that additional temporary fire bans might be enacted due to high winds or poor air quality to safeguard public safety and park resources. Such updates will be posted on the park’s website, and visitors will be informed upon arrival.
The fire ban specifically prohibits campfires, fire pits, and charcoal grills. However, visitors can use gas or propane grills in designated areas, including semi-developed and developed camping sites. At Lake Pleasant Regional Park, campfires along the shoreline are strictly forbidden. Anyone breaching the fire ban could face penalties under park rule R-113.
Smoking is also banned in Maricopa County’s regional parks, except within enclosed vehicles and campers. Visitors are urged to properly extinguish cigarettes and dispose of them in trash receptacles.
Though the fire ban is set to be lifted on September 30, officials will monitor weather patterns and vegetation conditions throughout the summer. An extension of the ban could be enforced if deemed necessary for public and environmental safety.
For more information, contact the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department at (602) 506-2930, or visit their website at www.maricopa.gov/parks.
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