Wildfire activity stayed low in 2018 despite an unfavorable forecast. According to new numbers from the Department of Forestry and Fire Management, measures taken by the state and federal partners helped prevent a disastrous season. Last year, more than 165,000 acres burned in Arizona, but in 2017, 420,000 acres were charred. In addition, Arizona had 2,000 fires across private, state, federal and tribal lands in 2018. In 2017, there were 2,205. "DFFM credits the 2018 decrease to a myriad of factors, including earlier implementation of fire restrictions, as well as closures on both state and federal lands. This is the first time in roughly ten years the state put closures into place for recreational use on state-owned and managed lands," DFFM said.