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:
The Knoll Fire, approximately 13 miles northeast of Payson, has reached 70 acres in size. It is zero percent contained.
Cause: Initial investigation indicates this wildfire was human caused by fireworks. Fireworks are ALWAYS illegal on all National Forests in Arizona and New Mexico.
The Knoll wildfire is happening approximately 13 miles northeast of Payson. It is 10 acres in size and is zero percent containted.
Cause: Initial investigation indicates this wildfire was human caused by fireworks. Fireworks are ALWAYS illegal on all National Forests in Arizona and New Mexico.
As part of the Tonto National Forest’s ongoing strategy to restore the health of the landscape and reduce catastrophic wildfire danger in Rim County, fire specialists will conduct prescribed fire treatments on 758 acres south of Payson, starting on Monday, January 29, and continuing through Friday, February 2, 2018. The treatment areas are located south of the Payson Golf Course, north of Oxbow Estates, southwest of Granite Dells, south of Round Valley, and north of Jim Jones Shooting Range.
Tonto National Forest fire specialists plan to conduct a 1,247-acre prescribed fire treatment in the Shoofly ruins area north of Payson from Monday, November 13, through Thursday, November 16, 2017.
The prescribed fire will eliminate timber slash, dead and down woody debris, grass and brush.
Tonto National Forest fire specialists are planning to conduct a 2,000 acres prescribed fire treatment in the Shoofly area, just north of Payson, beginning on Tuesday, October 10 through Friday, October 20, 2017. This treatment will eliminate timber slash, dead and down woody debris, grass and brush. During the day, smoke will impact the communities of Mesa del Caballo and Freedom Acres. During evening hours, residual smoke will travel down the East Verde Corridor and will impact the communities of Beaver Valley, Flowing Springs, E.
A brush fire burning in the median on Interstate 17 at milepost 249 is causing extensive southbound delays, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
Traffic is backed up about 7 miles from Bumble Bee Road to Badger Springs Road. Motorists should consider taking an alternate route, including State Route 260 through Camp Verde to SR 87 through Payson.
Fire managers are planning to conduct several prescribed burn projects during the late summer 2016 through winter 2017, as weather conditions allow.
Acres: 7,198 acres
Start Date: June 10, 2017
Cause: Unknown, under investigation
Origin: 8 mi N of Payson in 1990 Dude Fire Scar
Containment: 92%
Fuels: Grass, brush, heavy and down fuels, ponderosa pine and mixed conifer
Total personnel: 421
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