By admin 
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Firefighters across Arizona are on high alert as hot, dry conditions and Fourth of July celebrations raise concerns about new wildfire starts.
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Crews are already working to contain several wildfires burning across the Southwest, including the Pocket Fire near Sedona. At the same time, state fire officials say they are focused on stopping new fires before they have a chance to grow or threaten nearby communities.
The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) says strategically staged crews, engines, water tenders and patrols are helping firefighters respond quickly when new fires are reported.
Those efforts made a difference Thursday, when firefighters stopped two wildfires from growing larger.
One of them, the Miller Fire, started along Interstate 17 after being sparked by a vehicle. Firefighters quickly arrived and kept the roadside fire to just 0.30 acres. DFFM assisted Mayer Fire and the U.S. Forest Service because crews and resources were already nearby.
In north Phoenix, another fire burned in a wash near Half Hitch Place, between housing communities in the Phoenix Fire District response area. Officials say the fire was human-caused. A staged DFFM task force arrived in about 20 minutes and helped contain the flames at two acres. No homes were damaged.
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With fireworks and celebrations expected throughout the holiday weekend, DFFM has two task forces staged around the Phoenix area for rapid initial attack.
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Each task force includes five engines and one water tender. A dozer is also staged with one of the task forces in case it is needed.
Additional crews are positioned in and around several Arizona communities, including Chino Valley, Kingman, Phoenix and Tucson. Fire prevention patrols are also taking place statewide to help crews respond quickly to new wildfire starts.
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Officials say rapid response is critical, but preventing fires from starting is even more important as dangerous wildfire conditions continue.
As many celebrate the holiday weekend, fire officials are asking everyone to do their part to protect their communities and help keep Arizona safe.
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