State and federal land managers have imposed bans on open fires and other activities across much of southeastern Arizona because of high fire danger.
Orders from the federal Bureau of Land Management and the Arizona state forester take effect Monday.
They ban fires outside developed campgrounds, smoking outside a building or vehicle, welding and off-road driving.
The orders cover BLM-managed federal lands in Pima, Pinal, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Graham, Greenlee, Apache, and Navajo counties, and parts of Gila County.
The state order covers land under its control in much of the same region.
A severe fire season in the southwestern U.S. is predicted because of an ongoing drought. Exceptionally hot and dry weather has already led to numerous wildfires in southeastern Arizona. The biggest consumed more than 1,000 acres.
Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetCategories: West NewsTopics: Apache, Bureau of Land Management, Cochise, fire, Graham, Greenlee, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Santa CruzHave a hot lead? Email us at newsdeskView the Original article
