National Weather Service issues red flag warning for all Arizona forests

The National Weather Service has issued the first red-flag warning for most of Arizona on Wednesday, May 4. US Forest Service officials asked campers not to use campfires on any of Arizona's national forests.

A red flag warning means that any wildfire has a strong potential for extreme growth because of high winds and low relative humidity.

Although this is the first red flag day of the year, Central Yavapai Fire District personnel already have had to put out two wildfires caused by people using burn permits where tumbleweeds turned into rolling balls of fire in windy areas north of Prescott Valley earlier this month, CYFD Fire Marshal Charlie Cook said.

Rainfall measuring sites on the Prescott National Forest are averaging only about half of their usual precip, unlike many other parts of the country where floods and tornadoes rage. Winter precipitation in Prescott was below average, and April is so far below average.

Campers in the national forests should also be extra alert for burnable material close to campfires even on non-red alert days.