Campfires in Arizona: Fire Restrictions, BLM Rules and How to Put a Fire Out
A campfire is half the fun of winter camping in Arizona, and cooler, wetter months usually mean fewer restrictions than in spring and early summer. But rules change with conditions and differ between BLM, national forest, state park and county land, so check before you strike a match.
Step 1: Find out who manages the land
Fire rules depend on the agency. A BLM spot outside Quartzsite, a national forest campground near Flagstaff and a state park near Tucson can all have different rules on the same day. The Arizona Public Lands Map can help you see who manages where you're camped.
Step 2: Check current restrictions
- Statewide: the Arizona Interagency Fire Restrictions page lists restrictions across agencies.
- BLM: the BLM Arizona fire restrictions page has sections for each district (Arizona Strip, Colorado River, Gila and Phoenix), with local contacts.
- State parks, national parks and forests: check the park or forest website, or ask the campground host or ranger.
- Wind: even with no restrictions in place, Smokey Bear's guidance is not to build a fire in dry, windy or hazardous conditions.
Restriction orders spell out exactly what's allowed. Some permit stoves or fire pits that run on gas with an on-off valve when wood fires are banned, but don't assume it. Read the specific order for your area.
What BLM bans year-round in Arizona
BLM's statewide fire prevention order for Arizona (in effect through May 7, 2027) prohibits these on all BLM-managed public lands, all year, whether or not seasonal restrictions are on:
- Fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices
- Sky lanterns and similar fire balloons
- Exploding targets, plus tracer, explosive, steel-core and incendiary ammunition
- Burning tires or petroleum products, among other acts listed in the order
BLM district and field offices can add seasonal restrictions on top of this, so check the district too.
Building a safe campfire
From Smokey Bear's campfire guide:
- Use an existing fire ring when there is one. Otherwise pick a flat, open spot out of the wind.
- Stay at least 15 feet from tents, RVs, plants and low branches, and keep a 10-foot cleared circle around the fire.
- Have water, a bucket and a shovel ready before you light it.
- Use only small dead wood on the ground, never cut trees or branches, and never use flammable liquids to start it.
- Never burn trash, aerosol cans, batteries, glass or aluminum.
- Keep children and pets back, and never leave a fire unattended.
Leave No Trace adds that the best fire is often a small one in an existing ring, or no fire at all. A camp stove handles cooking, and a propane fire pit (where allowed) gives you the glow with no embers to drown.
Putting it out: drown, stir, drown, feel
- Drown: pour lots of water on it until the hissing stops. Smokey Bear says don't rely on dirt or sand alone.
- Stir: use a shovel to mix the water into the ashes and embers, and scrape any logs and sticks.
- Drown again: keep adding water until everything is cool.
- Feel: hold the back of your hand over the ashes. If it's warm, it's not out.
If a fire escapes into vegetation or embers fly outside the pit, call 911 right away.
Desert-specific tips
- Water is precious when you're boondocking, so set aside a few gallons just for putting out your fire.
- Dry grasses and invasive buffelgrass burn hot and fast, so clear your fire area well.
- Firewood is scarce in the low desert. Bring your own from a nearby source, or buy it locally.
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