In just the last two weeks, Thunderbird Fire District Chief Allen Alcott has already seen a growing number of structure and brush fires in his region.

“Our conditions out here are super dry. We had three fires in one day and one of them was even caused by a guy running a lawnmower,” he said.

The Stanfield man hit a rock while mowing the grass and weeds in his yard, immediately sparking a small brush fire.

“That’s how dry everything is,” Alcott said.

The Bureau of Land Management has also issued seasonal fire restrictions on its lands in central and western Arizona, including western Pinal County. This goes into effect Thursday.

The restrictions prohibit campfires, smoking outside enclosed vehicles, welding, recreational shooting and operating combustion-powered tools such as chainsaws.

Alcott is hoping the conditions don’t come close to 2024’s wildfire eruption. Pinal County saw at least 75 wildfires that year, burning more than 46,000 acres.  

“People just really need to understand that the vegetation is super dry,” he said. “Even though it looks like it’s short or not very tall grass, [the dry conditions] makes it so that the fire will progress extremely rapid.”