Tonto National Forest

The Cave Creek Ranger District will conduct pile burns along the forest boundary with the town of Rio Verde. The burns will begin March 17, 2022, at approximately 9 a.m. and conclude around 2 p.m.

This will be the second fuels reduction treatment of this Wildland Urban Interface area designed to create defensible space along the community’s boundary with the forest. These treatments reduce the threat of wildfires and increase the ability of firefighters to respond and protect communities. The town of Rio Verde is a Firewise Community.

Fire specialists will conduct a prescribed burn to reduce vegetative debris piles in the Diamond Point area and Forest Road 65 on the Payson Ranger District beginning Monday, Feb. 28 through Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

Residents and visitors to the area can expect to see and smell light-to-moderate amounts of smoke during the three-day 71-acre prescribed fire operation. To minimize the impact of smoke, fire personnel will end ignitions each day by 3 p.m.

Fire officials have cancelled pile burning operations on the Payson Ranger District scheduled for Feb. 8-9, 2022, due to unfavorable weather conditions.

Fire specialists planned to burn 107 acres of debris piles at Christopher Creek Campground, MP 274 south of State Route 260. The prescribed fire treatments will be rescheduled when fuel moisture content and weather conditions are favorable.

Cave Creek fire specialists will conduct pile burns around Bartlett Lake on the Monday Feb. 7, 2022.

The burns will occur at Bartlett Flatts and at a staging area off Horseshoe Dam Road.

Motorists may encounter smoke along the roadways, as well as fire management personnel. Please use caution while traveling in the area. The Forest Service will post signs on roads likely to be affected by smoke.

Residents and visitors to the area can expect to see and smell light-to-moderate amounts of smoke during the two-day operation.

Tonto National Forest fire specialists will conduct pile burns on the Payson Ranger District Feb. 8-9, 2022.

Fire specialists will burn 107 acres of debris piles at Christopher Creek Campground, MP 274 south of State Route 260.

Tonto National Forest fire specialists will be conducting a 408-acre broadcast burn near 512 Road, also known as Young Road, and the 411C Road on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021.

Residents and visitors to the area can expect to see and smell moderate amounts of smoke during the one-day operation. During the day, smoke will impact the 512 Road, the OW Ranch, Forest Lakes and Canyon Fish Hatchery. Residual smoke from this one-day prescribed burn operation may linger in these areas through Friday, Nov. 12.