fire restrictions

 All offices of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests will be closed on Monday, May 28, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. Business will resume Tuesday, May 29, during regular operating hours. Despite the office closure, fire and recreation personnel and law enforcement officers will be on duty over the Memorial Day weekend for the safety of visitors.

Forest officials expect large numbers of visitors to the most popular campgrounds and picnic areas throughout the holiday weekend.  The following are tips for safe and enjoyable weekend outings.

All offices of the Coronado National Forest will be closed on Monday, May 28, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. (The Sabino Canyon Visitor Center will remain open.) Business will resume Tuesday, May 29, during regular operating hours.

Despite the office closure, fire and recreation personnel and law enforcement officers will be on duty over the Memorial Day weekend for the safety of visitors.

The National Weather Service has issued a RED FLAG WARNING for Tuesday, May 22 from 12 pm to 7 pm for portions of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (ASNFs) and parts of eastern Arizona due to strong winds and low relative humidity. Relative humidity levels are expected to drop into the single digits and wind gusts are expected to be between 20 to 30 mph over the White Mountains and Mogollon Rim Country.

Public safety concerns due to drought conditions, hot temperatures and increased fire danger are causing the Tonto National Forest to implement two area closures beginning at 6:00 am, on Wednesday, May 23, 2018. Areas outside of the closures will remain at Stage 2 fire restrictions.

The area closures will be in these general areas and will include all Tonto National Forest lands within the boundaries:

Walnut Canyon, Sunset Crater Volcano, and Wupatki National Monuments will join the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests in implementing Stage II Fire Restrictions beginning Friday, May 4, 2018.

Stage II fire restrictions within the Flagstaff National Monuments prohibits:

The Kaibab National Forest will implement additional fire restrictions, also known as Stage II fire restrictions, across the entire Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts beginning at 8 a.m. this Friday. These new restrictions limit the kinds of activities typically allowed on the forest and will remain in effect until significant and widespread moisture arrives.

Effective Tuesday, May 1, the Bureau of Land Management Gila District, all districts of the Coronado National Forest, Saguaro National Park, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Coronado National Memorial, Chiricahua National Monument, Fort Bowie National Historic Site, Tumacácori National Historical Park, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management will implement campfire and smoking restrictions in southeastern Arizona.

Forest Service officials issued more than 300 warnings along with multiple citations to people visiting the Tonto National Forest April 20-22 who did not comply with Stage II fire restrictions.

Illegal target shooting accounted for the majority of violations, followed by campfires and use of charcoal in food preparation.

In accordance with Yavapai County Ordinance No. 2012-1, Section V. Yavapai County Board of Supervisor Chairman, Rowle Simmons has signed an interim order to enact a fire ban within Yavapai County.

This determination is based upon the implementation of fire restrictions by the following jurisdictions: Prescott National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, and local fire districts and fire departments which will be imposed on April 20, 2018, at 8:00 A.M.

Beginning April 20 campfire and smoking restrictions will be implemented on state lands and federally managed public lands in central and western Arizona which includes Yavapai, Maricopa, La Paz Yuma, Mohave and Gila counties, as well as portions of Pinal county.