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This year and to continue with tradition, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) celebrates Arbor Day at the State Capitol with a tree planting ceremony and community recognition event. For nearly two decades, DFFM has been planting trees on the Capitol grounds to improve the urban canopy and its overall beautification. This year, DFFM with the help of Smokey Bear plan to plant a 24-inch box Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis) tree donated by a grower with the Arizona Nursery Association. This fast-growing, low water use tree grows up to 30 feet tall and blooms between May and September. The Desert Willow is native to Arizona, exceptional for pollinators, and an attractive choice for desert landscapes.
Starting Tuesday, April 16, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management in conjunction with Arizona State Parks and Trails and Superstition Fire and Medical District conduct a one-day pile burn project at Lost Dutchman State Park, northeast of Apache Junction in Pinal County.
With summer just around the corner, many Arizonans are gearing up to hit the open road to get out of the heat. As the conditions across the state get warmer and drier the chances for roadside fires igniting along Arizona’s highways increases. Every year, wildland firefighters respond to hundreds of fires throughout the state due to tire blowouts, dragging trailer chains, and overheating vehicles. Roadside fires are notorious for shutting down major highways, like Interstate 17, and more often than not, causing severe traffic backups.
Starting Thursday, April 4, 2024, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) begins a one-day pile burn operation at Picacho Peak State Park outside of Eloy. Over the past few years, DFFM has been collaborating with Arizona State Parks and Trails to help with their wildfire risk reduction projects at various parks throughout the state. Arizona State Parks and Trails conducts the routine, on-going vegetative maintenance and DFFM provides the qualified resources to burn off the piles. Pile burning provides a more efficient way to reduce leftover fuel from hand or mechanical treatments and helps further safeguard the park and nearby communities.
Starting Wednesday, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) starts a two-day prescribed fire project near Buckeye, east of State Route 85, in Maricopa County. The Robbins Butte Pile Project is a 10-acre pile burn to reduce leftover debris from previous fuels reduction work in the area.
