Arizona's wildfire season seemed to get an early start this year, and major blazes have already made major news. If you're planning a day trip or weekend excursion into or through Arizona's national forests, here are some tips for steering clear of fires.
Before you head out on a trip, we recommend you check the newly redesigned InciWeb, a website run by several federal agencies — including the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service. The site features an interactive map where you can click on any currently burning forest fire, in Arizona or elsewhere, and get more information about it.
Each fire has its own page that includes an overview of the situation, updates about road or campsite closures, how the fire is thought to have started, what percentage of the blaze is contained, and information about any evacuations that have been ordered. For some fires, you'll also see an interactive map of the fire perimeter.
Each incident also has links you can use to follow the situation on Facebook, Twitter or other social media sites.
We hope you find this information helpful as you plan your vacation. And remember what Smokey Bear says: Only you can prevent forest fires — so be sure to adhere to the Leave No Trace principles of fire safety.