Maricopa, other counties warned of wildfire threat
The National Weather Service in Phoenix has issued “red flag warnings” for eastern Maricopa, eastern Pinal and Gila counties as a combination of hot, dry and windy weather provides conditions for the “development of fires” on Sunday.
Temperature highs are expected to be in the low to mid-90s while minimum relative humidity is at 5% to 15%. Peak wind gusts are expected to reach up to 40 miles per hour.
The red flag warning is in effect Sunday from noon until 10 p.m., according to Jared Heil, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix.
Red flag warnings in Arizona signal an increased risk of wildfire danger as temperatures increase, winds whip up and humidity drops.
The warnings are issued to alert fire managers on federal lands to expect conditions that allow fires to develop and spread rapidly, according to the National Weather Service.
Criteria for a red flag warning include a relative humidity of less than 15%, warm temperatures and high winds for several hours, combined with dry vegetation in an area, the weather service said.
“So conditions have to be favorable for, not exactly fires, but the development of fires,” said Heil. “What we typically look for are things like, ‘How dry are the fuels?’ That’s the dead brush and grass and things like that on the ground. Of course, we haven’t had much rain recently, so that certainly plays a role.”
In addition, Heil said the National Weather Service also pays attention to the dryness of the air and the potential for gusty winds.
“The red flag warning that we issue is dependent upon whether the conditions meet the criteria,” Heil said. “It’s really, what we like to say is, it’s the hot, dry, windy combination.”
Temperatures in Phoenix for the rest of the week are expected to be at or above normal, with temperature highs in the mid-90s and lows in the mid-60s.
The National Weather Service is asking that people practice wildfire safety:
● Properly discard cigarettes.
● Keep vehicles off of dry grass.
● Avoid activities with open flames or sparks.
● Avoid power equipment that creates sparks. ● Obey burn bans.
● Evacuate if fire/ smoke is heading your way.
● Evacuate if ordered to do so by local officials.
“So those are things that we want people to be really mindful of,” said Heil. “You know, dragging chains along the ground where the trailer hooks up to the truck. Stuff like that, throwing a cigarette, it does not take much when it is this dry and windy to start a fire and that’s what we really want people to be aware of.”
Critical fire conditions in northern Arizona
As fire season is underway, NWS Flagstaff has also issued fire weather conditions in northern Arizona.
A Red flag warning and a Fire Weather Watch were issued for Sunday for most of northern Arizona including parts of Yavapai, Coconino, Navajo, Apache and Gila counties because of the expected low humidity and strong winds, the weather service said in a Saturday release.
According to NWS Flagstaff, the dry weather and strong gusts could potentially lead to a higher risk of fire starts or the rapid spread of existing fires.
Coconino and Prescott national forests announced Friday that fire and smoking restrictions are to go into effect in northern Arizona on
Thursday, May 5.
Currently, there are two major wildfires burning in Arizona.
The Tunnel Fire has burned over 19,000 acres northeast of Flagstaff and is 89% contained. The Crooks Fire near Mount Union, about 10 miles south of Prescott, has burned over 9,000 acres and is at 38% containment.
A smaller yet significant blaze, the Locklin fire in Old Bisbee, has burned an estimated 112 acres as of Saturday morning and is 90% contained, according to Inciweb.
Republic editor Mike Crews and reporter Laura Daniella Sepúlveda contributed to this article.
Reach breaking news reporter Haleigh Kochanski at hkochanski@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @HaleighKochans.