Safe Travels: State and Cooperators Hosting Wildfire Prevention Events at Two Arizona Rest Stops
Phoenix, AZ (4/4/2024) – 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.
To help prevent these persistent roadside starts, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) along with its state and federal partners plan to hold two wildland fire prevention days at the Sunset Point and Texas Canyon Rest Areas to increase public awareness. DFFM, along with the Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) want to reach drivers early to help prevent these roadside fire starts. In 2023, per data gathered by DFFM’s Arizona Dispatch Center (ADC), agencies responded to nearly 500 roadside fires which accounted for 26% of all wildfires in the state. In 2022, ADC reported 275 roadside fires, or 19% of all total fires in Arizona.
On Friday, April 5, agency wildfire prevention personnel and wildland firefighters will be at the Sunset Point Rest Area, along southbound Interstate 17, north of Phoenix. According to ADOT, 1.2 million visitors travel through Sunset Point annually. Then on Friday, April 19, agencies plan to visit both sides of the Texas Canyon Rest Area, northeast of Benson, along Interstate 10 eastbound and westbound. Per ADOT, the east and west sides of the travel center see 800,000 total visitors every year. Both events start at 11am and run through 1pm.
Drivers can do their part by checking their vehicle’s fluids and tires prior to getting on the road. If towing a trailer, take a few extra minutes to be sure trailer chains are securely fastened. Never pull off the road into tall vegetation as the heat off the vehicle’s exhaust system could also ignite a fire.
On April 1, DFFM started airing new public service announcements at Arizona gas stations to target drivers. The ‘Stop Wildfires Before they Spark’ campaign focuses on recreational safety and reducing roadside wildfires. DFFM also plans to install kiosks at all ADOT-managed rest areas to further promote roadside fire safety.
For more information, contact Tiffany Davila at 602-540-1036 or by email at [email protected]
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