General Fire restrictions on Tonto National Forest begin Wednesday, May 22
All fireworks prohibited year-round

     PHOENIX (May 16, 2013) – Drought conditions, hot temperatures, and increased fire danger have resulted in fire restrictions for the Tonto National Forest beginning at 8 a.m., Wednesday, May 22.

     Most types of fire or fire-causing activities are prohibited across the entire Tonto National Forest.

     Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or charcoal-burning device is prohibited.

     Restrictions also apply to smoking outside of a cleared area, operating internal combustion power tools, using welding equipment or torches with open flames, operating combustion engines without spark-arresting devices in effective working order, or discharging firearms except in taking game in accordance with Arizona hunting laws. 
     Use of petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns, and heating devices are allowed, and some developed campgrounds are also exempted from these restrictions.  (Please see attached list).

     “We are going into restrictions due to rapidly decreasing fuel moisture and low humidity levels, as well as hot, dry, windy conditions going into the Memorial Day weekend,” said Tonto National Forest Fire Management Officer Clay Templin. “These precautionary measures are intended to enhance our visitors’ quality recreation experiences. Most areas of the Tonto National Forest remain available for recreation activity, including all the Salt River system lakes.” 

     “We continue to remind the public that all fireworks are prohibited on the forest at all times -- and this includes the use of exploding targets,” emphasized Templin. “We are highly concerned on the forest due to the increase of fires caused by recreational shooting in these continuing drought conditions. We have already had eight fire starts this year from this activity.    We would like to prevent a repeat of the Sunflower fire that was caused by target shooting and burned 17, 6118 acres and cost $5.7 million in firefighting efforts.”

     Violation of these fire restrictions is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and imprisonment for up to six months. 

For more information regarding forest recreation sites and fire restrictions, please contact the Tonto National Forest at (602) 225-5200, or check online at www.fs.usda.gov/tonto  

For general information on fire activity and restrictions in Arizona call toll free 877-864-6985, or visit the. Southwest Coordination Center website:  http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc or http://www.publiclands.org/firenews/AZ.php

Useful Websites:

Arizona Fire Restrictions:  http://firerestrictions.us/az
Phoenix Interagency Fire Center: http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/dc/azphc/
National Incident Information System www.inciweb.org
Southwest Coordination Center:  http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc
National Interagency Fire Center: www.nifc.gov
National Fire Plan: www.forestsandrangelands.gov
FireWise:  www.firewise.org

ARIZONA Websites: 
www.azfireinfo.com (fire prevention and restrictions)  
www.publiclands.org/firenews/AZ.php  (fire restrictions and other public lands information) www.azsf.az.gov.   (wildfire information and Firewise)
www.azein.gov    (Arizona Emergency Information Network for ALL hazard emergency and
disaster information)

Fire Restriction Information: Toll free 1 (877) 864-6985

Tonto NF fire restrictions in effect May 22, 2013

Campfires are allowed in fire grills and grates provided by the Forest Service in the following developed recreation sites:

Cave Creek Ranger District        

Bartlett Lake Recreation Area
Bartlett Lake Marina
Rattlesnake Cove
                                                         
Lower Verde Recreation Area                      
Needle Rock Day Use Picnic Area
SB Cove parking lot (ramadas with metal charcoal pedestals)
Yellow Cliffs parking lot (ramadas with metal charcoal pedestals)

Globe Ranger District                       

Pioneerr Pass, Pinal Mtns
Sulphide Del Ray, Pinal Mtns
Kellner, Pinal Mtns
Lower Pinal, Pinal Mtns
Upper Pinal, Pinal Mtns
Jones Water, off AZ Hwy 77 north of Globe
Oak Flat, off AZ Hwy 60 east of Superior
Timber Camp
Timber Camp Horse Camp
                                               

Mesa Ranger District

Saguaro Lake Marina

Saguaro Del Norte
Butcher Jones
Canyon Lake Marina
Acacia
Boulder
Laguna       
Palo Verde
Granite Reef
Phon D Sutton
Coons Bluff
Goldfield
Pebble Beach
Blue Point
Sheep’s Crossing
Water Users
Larry Forbis Group Site

Tonto NF fire restrictions in effect May 22, 2013

Payson Ranger District                    

Houston Mesa Campground
Houston Mesa Horse Camp
Ponderosa Campground
Christopher Creek Campground
Sharp Creek Campground
Tonto Creek Campground
Tonto Creek Walk-In
                                                         

Pleasant Valley Ranger District                 

Sawmill Flats Campground
Colcord Ridge Campground
Upper Canyon Creek Campground
Airplane Flats Campground
Valentine Canyon Campground
Haigler Creek Campground
Creekside Campground
Falls Campground
Cascade Campground
Rose Creek Campground
                            
Tonto Basin Ranger District             

Apache Lake Marina
Vineyard Picnic Site
Frazier Campground
Windy Hill Campground
Cholla Campground
Grapevine Campground
Cottonwood Picnic Site
Schoolhouse Campground
Indian Point Campground
Burnt Corral Campground