The Pipeline Fire was human-caused in an area that has a permanent fire ban due to its proximity to the city of Flagstaff.
Flagstaff District Ranger Matt McGrath suggests that a permanent ban of all overnight use within several miles of the San Francisco Peaks is on the table.
So I think what we’ll be looking at going forward is working with our partners, the city and the county and the community. How do we manage visitor use in this area differently? So folks are allowed to camp there but if we just can’t count on people to not have a fire do we need to close that area to camping? Maybe. I think that’s a conversation that we’ll be having this winter.
How do we provide the opportunity for locals, for people visiting to still have an overnight experience? Maybe it just can’t be within three or four miles of the Peaks.
From reading social media posts, it is clear that local Flagstaff area residents are vocally opposed to anybody else getting to enjoy the public land they live near. It will be interesting to read about the conversations that occur on this topic in the future.
I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.
chumley wrote:
From reading social media posts, it is clear that local Flagstaff area residents are vocally opposed to anybody else getting to enjoy the public land they live near
Sedona-Syndrome - "Now that I am here, close the door".
"The censorship method ... is that of handing the job over to some frail and erring mortal man, and making him omnipotent on the assumption that his official status will make him infallible and omniscient."
George Bernard Shaw
Hike Arizona it is full of sharp, pointy, ankle-twisting, HAZmaster crushing ROCKS!!
Hike Arizona it is full of sharp, pointy, shin-stabbing, skin-shredding plants!
Hike Arizona it is full of striking, biting, stabbing, venomous wildlife!
Honestly, I don't see the problem with closing areas to camping if the consequences of a fire are particularly bad. There are plenty of areas to camp up there that aren't within three miles of the peaks, so closing that particular area wouldn't really be that big a burden on people who want to go up there and camp for the weekend. I've been avoiding the area around the peaks for awhile anyways.
"The censorship method ... is that of handing the job over to some frail and erring mortal man, and making him omnipotent on the assumption that his official status will make him infallible and omniscient."
George Bernard Shaw
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