2018 Fire Restrictions

[chumley]

[ Updated Mon 2018-07-16 ]
All land managed by the 6 national forests in Arizona are open and have no fire restrictions.
The only exceptions are temporary local closures due to weather or recent burn areas. As always check with the proper agency before you go.

Please note that each land management agency defines restrictions somewhat differently, and one agency may have restrictions while another a few miles away may not. It is our responsibility to know where we are, which agency manages the land we are on, and what restrictions that agency has in place. It can be very confusing.

A good overview is this website: https://firerestrictions.us/az/
Though I recommend visiting the website or social media site of the agency where you will be visiting.

Announced or in effect now:

Tonto National Forest
ALL AREAS OPEN: No Restrictions
Effective Wednesday, July 13 - https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tonto/ne ... EPRD586727
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tonto/ne ... EPRD587089
Previously:
Effective Wednesday, May 23 - 2 large areas closed - https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 581181.pdf
Effective Wednesday, April 18 - https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tonto/ne ... EPRD576665

Coconino National Forest
ALL AREAS OPEN! NO RESTRICTIONS!
Effective Wednesday, July 11 - https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino ... EPRD586542
Previously:
Effective May, 23: - Area Closures Implemented https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino ... EPRD580817
Effective Friday, April 27: - Stage II Restrictions https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino ... EPRD577593

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
All restrictions and closures lifted effective 7/16/18.
Previously:
Stage 2 Fire Restrictions in remaining open areas forest-wide
(No campfires, no smoking)
Effective Monday, April 23
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/asnf/new ... EPRD577026

Prescott National Forest
All restrictions lifted effective 7/13/18
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/prescott ... EPRD586857
Previously:
Partial Bradshaw Ranger District CLOSURE Begins Jun 1st
Stage 2 Fire Restrictions in remaining open areas forest-wide
(No campfires, no smoking, and no target shooting)
Effective Friday, April 20
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/prescott ... EPRD576679

Coronado National Forest
No Restrictions effective 7/13/18
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coronado ... EPRD586953
Previously: Effective Tuesday, May 1
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coronado ... EPRD577586

Kaibab National Forest
No Restrictions effective 7/16/18
Effective July 11 - Bill Williams Mountain now OPEN.
No Fire Restrictions on Williams and Tusayan Districts
Effective July 18, Restrictions lifted on the North Kaibab District
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/kaibab/n ... EPRD587249
Previously:
Effective Friday, May 11: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/kaibab/a ... ?aid=46421
Effective Friday, June 8: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/kaibab/n ... EPRD582675

Official Websites:
Tonto NF
https://www.fs.usda.gov/tonto
https://twitter.com/TontoForest
https://www.facebook.com/TontoNationalForest/

Coconino NF
https://www.fs.usda.gov/coconino
https://twitter.com/CoconinoNF
https://www.facebook.com/CoconinoNF

Apache-Sitgreaves NF
https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf
https://twitter.com/A_SNFs
https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs

Prescott NF
https://www.fs.usda.gov/prescott
https://twitter.com/PrescottNF
https://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF

Coronado NF
https://www.fs.usda.gov/coronado
https://twitter.com/CoronadoNF
https://www.facebook.com/CoronadoNF/

Kaibab NF
https://www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
https://twitter.com/KaibabNF
https://www.facebook.com/KaibabNF

BLM
https://blm.gov/arizona
https://twitter.com/BLMAZFire
https://facebook.com/BLMArizona

[Pivo]

I wish they would employ Fire Restriction for Coronado Too. It's soooo dry and windy here.

[Jim]

I would like the OP, but that feature is remove due to the past...but I support these. Now, if people will adhere to them.

[PrestonSands]

@Pivo
Stage 2 fire restrictions for Coronado are coming shortly...

[ALMAL]

Good news if you own stock in MSR or a company that makes IsoPro fuel canisters.

[chumley]

Restrictions on the Coronado National Forest begin a week from today, May 1st.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coronado ... EPRD577586

Restrictions on the Coconino National Forest expand from just the Red Rock District to forest-wide on Friday, April 27th.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino ... EPRD577593

Restrictions on the Kaibab National Forest for the Williams and Tusayan Districts begin on Friday, April 27th.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/kaibab/n ... EPRD577601

By May 1st, announced restrictions will now prohibit campfires on all Arizona national forests with the exception of the North Kaibab district north rim of Grand Canyon and some developed campgrounds (typically pay campgrounds with camp hosts and metal fire rings). If you aren't sure, your default assumption should be that fires are not allowed.

[SpiderLegs]

This just put a damper on our spring camping trip. Guess we will all sit around a lantern or two.

[chumley]

@SpiderLegs
I'll take a lantern and some party lights in a shady pine forest over a barren moonscape of ash and blackened tree trunks. That's what I would consider a real damper on a camping trip!

[SpiderLegs]

@chumley - Very true!!

[chumley]

Beginning Friday, May 4, the following forests will all be under Stage II restrictions:

Prescott NF
Tonto NF
Coconino NF
Coronado NF
Kaibab NF (except north of Grand Canyon)

Stage II restrictions prohibit campfires, charcoal, and wood stoves, smoking outside, target shooting, driving off a forest road or over vegetation, and operating machinery such as chainsaws.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/prescott ... EPRD578529

At this point, Apache-Sitgreaves is the only forest still in Stage 1, which means that campfires are prohibited across the entire forest, except in developed campgrounds.

[Pivo]

We have a fire in th Catalina's. Bug Fire.

[hikeaz]

We have a fire in th Catalina's. Bug Fire.

Coronado NF (@CoronadoNF) -BUG FIRE "Good progress today, little fire activity evident . Size estimated 35 acres. Resources remain to construct and strengthen fireline tomorrow."

[cactuscat]

Arizona State Parks in the Southern Region (Roper, Patagonia, Catalina, Picacho, etc.) Implemented Stage 2 fire restrictions (bans) today as well.

[kelly14]

Tried to read up on the national forest websites but just wanted to make sure. If I wanted to grill up some hotdogs in a portable propane stove in the back of my truck is that allowed? On the coconino or tonto National Forests? Think it’s allowed till May 4th?

[amy1300]

@kelly14
Pretty sure a propane stove, if it can be turned OFF, in the back of the truck would be allowed even after May 4th, but you have to make sure to park the vehicle where there is absolutely NO vegetation under it, so heat from the car parts won't start a fire, and NO vegetation above it where it could catch fire due to heat from the stove rising. See this page: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino ... rdb5423784

[joebartels]

@kelly14
Both those forests are in stage II restrictions.
I'm not as good at Googling as Chums but basically the restrictions vary by state so "stage ii fire restrictions arizona" nets...

https://dffm.az.gov/newsroom/fire-restrictions

1) Building maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, or wood stove including fires in developed campgrounds or improved sites is prohibited. Persons using a device fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off is permitted. Such devices can only be used in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of the device.

2) Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, is prohibited.

3) Discharging a firearm except while engaged in a lawful hunt pursuant to state, federal, or tribal laws and regulations is prohibited.

4) Mechanical and Industrial prohibitions:
Operating any internal combustion engine.
Welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame.
Using an explosive.

personally I wouldn't trust my own googling...

[kelly14]

@amy1300 Yes of course! Thank you

[kelly14]

@joebartels Thank you sir

[Ampaz]

I was going to do a 4 day/3 night at cabin loop trail starting this coming Monday may 7 but that area is now in evacuation zone. Any recommendations for alternative? Going solo, need reliable water sources and solitude.

[chumley]

Beginning next Wednesday, Coconino National Forest will implement full closures for several popular areas including the San Francisco Peaks, Fossil Creek, the Mogollon Rim, and more.

The closure will PROHIBIT ALL USE in these areas.

There’s a map in the news release:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino ... EPRD580817