Coronado National Forest CLOSED 6/9/11!

[SkyIslandHiker]

The Coronado National Forest just released this Media Advisory within the hour:

"Press Conference June 6 at Noon Regarding Fire Danger on the Coronado National Forest

VERY HIGH TO EXTREME FIRE DANGER PROMPTS OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS OPTIONS FOR
FIRE SAFETY ON THE CORONADO NATIONAL FOREST
Press Conference to Follow Meeting June 6 at Noon

TUCSON, AZ (June 3, 2011) – Federal, county and local officials will meet
Monday, June 6 to discuss very high to extreme fire danger on the Coronado
National Forest, and options available to protect public safety and natural
resources. A press conference will follow at noon..."

Bill

[Jeffshadows]

Ooh - I may have to hike out and see what Bridalveil looks like with all this rain...

That sounds like an awesome plan!

[Jeffshadows]

Check it out...

11-27 Fire Closures Lifted 070611 - final.pdf

(36.58 KiB) Downloaded 91 times

[sirena]

:GB: Yay! Our hiking options are returning!

[sirena]

Even better news- just got this from Coronado NF on Twitter:

CORONADO NATIONAL FOREST TO REOPEN SANTA CATALINA RANGER DISTRICT effective July 6 at 11:59 p.m. Fire Restrictions are in effect.

Hooray!

[azdesertfather]

More good news...

Chiricahua National Monument Reopens
Date: July 2, 2011
Chiricahua National Monument will implement a partial reopening beginning Thursday, July 7, 2011. Visitors will have the opportunity to see the results of the Horseshoe Two Fire in the lower canyon as well as stop by the visitor center to view images of the fire and its effects in the monument. Bonita Canyon Rd. will remain closed, except for emergency and administrative vehicles. During the fire, the guardrail was burned; engineers will assess the road and repairs will be completed before it is reopened to the public. All the upper trails, including Echo Canyon, Lower and Upper Rhyolite, Heart of Rocks, Ed Riggs, Hailstone, and Sarah Deming, as well as the campground will also remain closed as Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) teams and other specialists assess the damage and work to remove hazards. “Flooding is our next big concern,” said Interim Superintendent William Shott. “With the loss of vegetation on the hillsides, the potential for debris flows is greater. We want to make sure the roads and trails are safe for visitors.”

The human-caused Horseshoe Two fire began on May 8, 2011 fifteen miles south of Chiricahua National Monument in Horseshoe Canyon in the Chiricahua Mountain Range of the Coronado National Forest. The fire burned through most of the monument, but with varying intensity, so there are still many areas that remain green. Forty-nine days after it began, the Horseshoe Two fire was finally contained on June 25, 2011.

http://www.publiclands.org/firenews/pre ... AFpfWNeElD

[azdesertfather]

Best place to keep up with trailheads that are open and closed in Pima County:
http://www.pima.gov/nrpr/trails/index.htm

[chumley]

CORONADO NATIONAL FOREST TO REOPEN SANTA CATALINA RANGER DISTRICT effective July 6 at 11:59 p.m. Fire Restrictions are in effect.

Here's the official announcement:

[John13np]

Coronado National memorial also just opened today. Just the visitor center though

[azbackpackr]

Sitgreaves is open over by Pinetop and Show Low, and parts of Apache are opening tomorrow including Big Lake, Luna Lake, Nelson Reservoir. Not sure about Mt. Baldy trails, but there will be campgrounds open up there, too.

[SkyIslandHiker]

News Release
USDA Forest Service
Coronado National Forest
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado

Effective Immediately
THREE CORONADO NATIONAL FOREST RANGER DISTRICTS REOPENING
Areas Affected by Wildfire and the Sierra Vista Ranger District Remain Closed, Fire Restrictions in Effect for all Open Areas


TUCSON, AZ (July 12, 2011) – Three ranger districts on the Coronado National Forest will reopen July 12. The Santa Catalina Ranger District previously reopened. The Sierra Vista Ranger District remains closed. All open areas remain under Stage II Fire Restrictions.

Portions of the Douglas Ranger District are open. The Chiricahua Mountains remain closed to provide for public safety related to flooding and road reconstruction or stabilization following the Horseshoe 2 Fire. All roads, trails, and developed campgrounds within the Chiricahua Mountain Range north of Forest Road 74 (Tex Canyon/Rucker roads) remain closed. Within this area, the following roads will be open for public use as long as safety conditions permit:

• FR 42 East of Onion Saddle (Cave Creek Canyon)
• FR 42A – Herb Martyr Road
• FR 42B – between Portal and Paradise .
• FR 42D between Onion Saddle and Barfoot Junction
• FR 357 from Barfoot Junction to Barfoot Park
• FR 622 – South Fork of Cave Creek is open to pedestrians only.
• FR 74 – Tex Canyon to Rucker Canyon Rd
• Trail 280 – Silver Peak Trail
• Vista Point Trail
• Cave Creek Nature Trail
• Crystal Cave Trail

This closure will remain in effect until October 15, 2011, or until rescinded, whichever is earlier.

Portions of the Nogales Ranger District are open. To allow for public safety, Pena Blanca Lake remains closed, as does Forest Road 39 from Highway 289 (at Pena Blanca Lake) to Forest Road 4186 (approximately one to one and one-half miles east of Ruby, Arizona). This closure will remain in effect until July 31, 2011, or until rescinded, whichever is earlier.

The Safford Ranger District is open.

All open areas of the Coronado National Forest remain under Stage II Fire Restrictions.
Current prohibitions on all ranger districts of the Coronado National Forest are:

1. Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, or wood stove fire, including within a developed recreation site or improved site. Exception: The use of petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns, or heating devices is allowed so long as such devices meet the fire underwriter’s specifications for safety.
2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter, that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
3. Using an explosive.
4. Operating an internal combustion engine. Exception: Motor vehicles.
5. Welding or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame.
6. Possessing or using a motor vehicle off National Forest System roads. Exceptions: Parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of the roadway, or parking in Forest Service developed campgrounds and trailheads.
7. Discharging a firearm, except while engaged in a lawful hunt pursuant to state, federal, or tribal laws and regulations.

Fire restrictions remain in effect until July 18, 2011, or until rescinded, whichever is earlier.