2021 Fire Restrictions

[chumley]

National Forests
Apache-Sitgreaves No Restrictions starting Fri Jul 16th
Coconino No Restrictions starting Fri Jul 16th
Coronado No Restrictions starting Fri Jul 9th
Kaibab No Restrictions starting Fri Jul 16th
Prescott No Restrictions starting Wed Jul 21st
Tonto No Restrictions starting Wed Jul 21st

State Trust
No Restrictions except Stage I in Yavapai County only

BLM
Nothing reported on HAZ thus far.

Per usual; check with the land managing agency before any trip for the best results.

----------- original post below ------------
Update: A-S NF enacting a full closure beginning 6/24.

Update: A-S NF goes to Stage 2 beginning 6/11

Apache-Sitgreaves are the first National Forests in the state to enact restrictions, effective tomorrow May 7, 2021.
These Stage 1 Restrictions are set to expire December 31, 2021.
Read the official forest order here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 909204.pdf

The public land agencies in the Southwest have made yet another attempt at consolidating restriction information in one (woefully poor attempt at an) easy to use website.
Needless to say, it does not yet reflect the announced ASNF restriction. Perhaps it will tomorrow when it takes effect?
You may visit this consolidated source of fire restriction data at this link.

[nonot]

Not sure if Chums is busy, but is it possible to request someone combine the list of closures in the original (first) post in this thread?

Also, the Prescott closure that DixieFlyer linked seems like the wrong link. Furthermore, I cannot locate any stage 3 closure information on the Prescott Forest Service homepage...as far as I can tell Prescott will only be at stage 2 this weekend. There are only local closures listed in the Prescott National Forest due to the Rock Butte Fire and Backbone Fire...

[joebartels]

@nonot
I filled in the AZ NF's on the OP that I could find

FYI reference:
National Forest Website Links on HAZ

All Forest by State


Guide Pages

[chumley]

how will they EVER be able to mobilize a crew to announce closures in-person to those are camping off the grid

I've been backpacking in a forest that announced a closure while I was on my trip. There was no penalty for being on the forest during those first days of the closure. A FS official escorted us through the closed gate at the end of the road upon our exit. Of course, that's just my experience, I have no idea if North Kaibab would do the same.

[nonot]

@nonot
I filled in the AZ NF's on the OP that I could find

You are awesome!

Also, I did find the article DixieFlyer referenced about Prescott closing, but it was in the News category rather than the FS alerts (????)

[KwaiChang]

The surprising thing is that in 2002 the closures happened in mid-MAY!

[ AZ Forest - CLOSED ]

Thanks Chums - that was a funnee read. People just as patriotic stark raving mad back then as they are now. Not that there is anything wrong with that!

[cactuscat]

Tonto finally released the order. A "full closure", except for 3 pages of open areas - what a joke!

[hikeaz]

Tonto finally released the order. A "full closure", except for 3 pages of open areas - what a joke!

The short version is "If you are PAYING, you're IN!".

[andrewp]

@cactuscat


I think that they're counting on the water not being flammable which would be a reasonable assumption, but this is Tonto so all bets are off...

[cactuscat]

@andrewp
And don't forget about all those boat trailers dragging chains on the road, while their drivers toss cigarette butts out the window.

[chumley]

@cactuscat Tonto can’t control what happens on state highways. Those will be open anyway and people driving on them with trailers and chains and cigarettes. (Unless we can get ADOT to institute a trailer ban!! How has Gov Newsom not thought of that in Kali yet!?)

[cactuscat]

@chumley
They're just going to tow their boats and campers around for fun if they literally have nowhere to take them? Maybe ... nothing is beyond the realm of possibility.

[chumley]

@cactuscat
They're probably driving them to ROLA!

[CannondaleKid]

Maps of Tonto NF Closed/Open areas:

fseprd926022.pdf

(2.1 MiB) Downloaded 211 times

For the Lower Salt Area, NOTHING is open SOUTH of Bush Highway from Power Road to the bridge at Blue Point, which means:
* All bike trails in the Hawes Area are CLOSED
* All of Bulldog OHV Area is CLOSED

All is OPEN between Bush Highway and the Salt River (and crazy enough, open all the way across the wasteland to the Beeline AZ 87).
* Granite Reef, Phon D Sutton, Coon Bluff, Goldfield (tubers exit), Blue Point, Pebble Beach and Water Users Rec Areas (everything along the Salt) are OPEN.

[PrestonSands]

@chumley

This includes State Parks that are not in incorporated municipalities

Do you know what State Parks those might be? Couldn’t find anything on the State Parks website…

[chumley]

@PrestonSands
It sounds like the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management may have been a bit "out of their lane" with the announcement about state parks in their press release.

Fool Hollow is closed because of the ASNF closure. Tonto Bridge is closed due to the Backbone Fire (but the Tonto NF closure explicitly exempts the road that accesses the park so I assume that it will be open if the fire danger/evacuation notices end. Slide Rock is closed due to the Rafael Fire, but if fire activity there doesn't threaten it, I'd expect it to open again soon too.)

Otherwise I believe all other state parks are open. Skip the ADFFM press release and check directly with the state parks website for details here: https://azstateparks.com/fire-safety/

[DixieFlyer]

so much for forest closures keeping people out:

[AZLumberjack]

I drove past First Water Road yesterday (06-29-21) and found this barricade system to prevent access to the trailheads. Further down the Trail, the gravel pit access has tape, the Needle Vista has the gate closed & locked and the drivable washes have tape across the entrance. I didn't see any FS trucks or personnel around but it's still early in the week.

[joebartels]

Coconino NF to reopen to public 6 a.m. July 6; Stage 2 restrictions will be in effect

Recreation technicians ask for patience as they work to remove gates, locks and barriers throughout the coming days.

The decision to reopen the forest was made based on the amount of recent rainfall that occurred across all three districts of the forest. Stage 2 fire restrictions will be in effect upon reopening.

Stage 2 restrictions prohibit the following:

Igniting fires, campfires, charcoal, coal, smudge pots and wood stoves (except using a stove or grill that is solely fueled by pressurized liquid petroleum or pressurized liquid petroleum gas (LPG) fuels).
Smoking (except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of any flammable material).
During the hours of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., operating a chainsaw or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine for felling, bucking, skidding, processing, road building and woodcutting during industrial operations or firewood gathering capable of igniting a fire.
During the hours of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., using a blasting, welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame.
Using explosives and fireworks is always prohibited on all National Forest land.

While the forest-wide closure will be lifted, specific closures around active wildfires – such as the Rafael Fire, Backbone Fire, Slate Fire and Snake Fire – may still be in effect. A full list of forest orders detailing specific closure areas is available on the Coconino NF’s website.

Fire danger remains extreme across all forest districts, and forest visitors are asked to remain vigilant and refrain from any behavior that may accidentally start a wildfire. Drivers should avoid dragging chains and driving vehicles over dry vegetation that may ignite.

Violation of the restrictions on national forests is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment up to six months, or both.

[Watauga]

Woo!

[cactuscat]

Tonto is opening - after less than an inch of rain in much of the forest.