This is the last weekend to have fires in desert parks and mountain preserves in the city of Phoenix. A fire ban will go into effect May 1.

The city will ban fires in parks that have natural areas like hiking trails.

Parks Department spokesman Gregg Bach says the fire ban is necessary as wildfire season approaches. 

He says low humidity, the increase in temperatures, dry vegetation and seasonal winds are all factors on why the fires are banned. 

Bach says visitors can still use certain types of grills. 

“We do have some established ramada and picnic areas, and so people would be able to use a propane or a gas grill in those designated picnic areas. But we’re prohibiting anything that would be an open wood or charcoal fire in those areas,” Bach said. 

Bach says the ban usually lasts until fall or early winter.

The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department also says it will have a fire ban at its regional parks starting the same day.