HikeArizona.COM

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.

https://www.knau.org/knau-and-arizona-n ... -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.

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".

chumley wrote:it is clear that local Flagstaff area residents are vocally opposed to anybody else getting to enjoy the public land they live near

People can't enjoy the area if they aren't allowed to camp there?

They really can't enjoy it if it's all destroyed by fire ...

Hmm: We closed an area to camping, but someone camps there and starts fire.

Solution: Let's close more areas to camping to prevent fires!

Considering there is a complete absence of logic there, I think it is correct to see through to the actual agenda as others have already commented.

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.

@nonot
The area he was in was not closed to camping, as far as I know. He wasn't supposed to be actually living up there however.

Not a new challenge...
https://tucson.com/news/state-and-regio ... a50fb.html

Camping restriction or not people will still start fires. How about more official campsites with host? Seems to be in demand. Just a thought.