Brush Fires (Phoenix: how much, homes, design)

[HACESOL]

Does the area around Phoenix, or Phoenix, ever get brush fires? I hear about them in CA a lot, and wonder the Phoenix area gets them. I hope not! Thanks

[rambrush]

Yes
City of Phoenix's borders spread way North and South which covers Phoenix Mountain Preserve, South Mountain etc.
They are not alone most every area has brush fires and some are in the river bottom burning out the salt cedars.
They all have special Wildland/ Brush rigs designed to handle the situations, the helicopters practice bambi bucket water drops etc.
The Valley area sits in a bowl and can get some inversions trapping the smoke until the winds come in and refresh

[observer53]

We do get them, but they are not at all like the ones you hear about in Southern California, which in fire season get very large very fast due to the Santa Ana winds, are difficult to stop due to the terrain there, and endanger homes. Just not the same thing you've heard about at all.

[S. Chris Webb]

This year may be a bad brushfire season, considering how much vegetation we had in early Spring. The City of Phoenix just put a ban on charcoal/wood BBQs and smoking in parks a few days ago. To the folks that smoke - PLEASE do not throw your ashes or cigarettes out the car windows. The majority of roadside fires are started this way.