Related articles:

Monsoon has eased Arizona's blaze risk

Trades/Construction
RANCHO RESORT
MAINTANANCE POSITION General
A1 Communications
Cable Techs Health Care
Sierra Tucson
Eating Disorders Program Coordinator

PHOENIX — Arizona could escape the summer relatively unscarred by fire, thanks to a wet monsoon season.

Mid-July is typically the peak time for wildfires in the state. But officials say the storms, the humidity and a big snowpack have minimized the fire risk.

Earlier this month, the state's six national forests lifted all campfire and smoking restrictions. In the Coconino National Forest in Northern Arizona, the risk has dropped so much that officials have lowered the fire danger level to "moderate."

"We've seen nowhere near the activity in previous years," said Karen Malis-Clark, a Coconino Forest spokeswoman. "We're watching it rain once again in Flagstaff, and I am loving it."

Jaret Rogers, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said Flagstaff has received 1.74 inches of rain already during this monsoon, which began on June 15.

That compares with 0.36 of an inch by this time last year.

In Prescott, the ground has benefited from 1.55 inches in the past month.

There had been no measurable rainfall at this time last year.

So far this month through 5 p.m. Sunday, the Tucson area had 3.38 inches of rain, compared with a normal 1.19 inches, according to the weather service.

This means Arizona likely will have a mild wildfire season, authorities said, especially compared with the blazes ravaging nearby states.

California in particular is suffering from one of the worst wildfire rampages in its history.

Firefighters have been battling roughly 2,000 blazes there in recent weeks.