AZ Wildfire Season: Coconino County, Flagstaff Start Air Patrols

FLAGSTAFF, AZ – With wildfire season already underway, local governments are taking extra precautions. For Flagstaff and Coconino County, that means taking to the air.

The Coconino County Sheriff's Office and the Flagstaff Police Department are starting air patrols to keep an eye out for illegal fires.

The patrols will take place in the evening and early morning and will take place over the greater Flagstaff area.

Officials say the goal is to increase wild land fire prevention efforts. (Get Phoenix Patch's real-time news alerts and free morning news letters. Like us on Facebook. Also, download the free Patch iPhone app or free Patch Android app.)

"Patrols from an aircraft provide an additional method to help locate campfires and other potentially illegal activity. Information from these patrols will help first responders on the ground more quickly locate and respond to potential fire hazards," they said in a joint statement.

"This method of patrol has proven to be effective in in the past."

The sheriff's office has also activated their Woods Watch Volunteers. These people have completed specific training to aid in identifying and reporting suspicious activity in the forests.

Photo via CCSO.