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

[kelly14]

@nonot And young to highway 260? Open?

[joebartels]

@kelly14
currently looks open according to the the ADOT AZ511 Map
map legend on the right shows the icon for closure, which is currently notable on Pecos Rd

[kelly14]

@joebartels Thank you!

[amy1300]

Ironic -- this Saturday is "national get outdoors day"
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coronado ... EPRD582666

[chumley]

@amy1300
what's the irony?

[amy1300]

@chumley
Definition 2a, Merriam Webster: "the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning" -- A post on a national forest website says Saturday is "national get outdoors day," i.e., an invitation to get outdoors in the forest, yet the national forests are mostly closed (particularly the parts that would be of interest to hikers, like Kachina Peaks Wilderness).

[chumley]

@amy1300
Well it was posted by the Coronado National Forest, which has no closures. I think facts dispute that forests are mostly closed, and I wholly disagree with the assertion that the closures focus on parts that are of interest to hikers. There's a ton of open forest land and some outstanding hiking opportunities. I say celebrate National Get Outdoors Day! (It would be ironic if it was National Light Up a Smoke in the Forest Day! )

[chumley]

The rest of Kaibab is going Stage 2 beginning Friday, June 8.
This means that ALL National Forest land in Arizona is now under Stage 2 restrictions (plus some areas are closed to all use).
No campfires. No charcoal. No smoking. No target shooting.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/kaibab/n ... EPRD582675

[lhalloran]

Alright guys,

If a guy were looking for a 20-30 mile hike with at least one water source, where would he go? Was planning Alpine, Steeple Mesa ( [ Steeple Mesa - Grant Creek ] )

That's closed.

Was then going to do the cabin loop up on the Mogollon.

That's closed.

Looking to beat the heat and spend a night or two under the stars. Not completely against an out and back but I'd prefer a loop or a one-way as I'll have two vehicles.

[Tough_Boots]

Was planning Alpine, Steeple Mesa ( [ Steeple Mesa - Grant Creek ] )

That's closed.

Looks open to me.

Call the ranger station to be sure but from the closure maps it doesn't appear that the Blue Range is part of the closure area.

[hiking_arizona]

Just saw trail runners at Mt Ord 626 and 27 forest road closures .. What part of closed do they not understand?

A very warm 95F at 11am at SR87 and Bernhardt road.

[Pivo]

@hiking_arizona
If you see that, photograph them.

[lhalloran]

@Tough_Boots
Indeed you are correct. I need to brush up my map skills, clearly.

It also looks like a solid chance of rain during the week of the 4th. I'll keep my eyes peeled on the weather but we may have a winner.

Although, I am still more than welcome to suggestions from anyone here for 2-3 day hikes.

[azbackpackr]

I just got back from the Sierras. Well worth the drive. ..

[kelly14]

Looks like Coconino national forest and Parts of Kaibab National forests are lifting closures and fire restrictions on Wednesday I believe.

https://www.google.com/amp/amp.fox10pho ... -wednesday

[Dschur]

So are Tonto.. but there are still restrictions I hope people are going to check to see.. but I know they probably won't...

[chumley]

I updated the original post with links to the various announcements this week.
The basics:
• Coconino has removed all closures and restrictions.
• Tonto has opened closed areas, Stage 1 remains in effect forest-wide.
• Kaibab has opened closed areas and removed all restrictions on the Williams and Tusayan Districts
• Prescott has reaffirmed that Stage 2 restrictions and closure area remain in effect due to lack of rain coverage across the forest.
• Coronado has reaffirmed that Stage 2 restrictions remain in effect due to lack of rain coverage across the forest.
• Apache-Sitgreaves has not commented yet. Closures and restrictions remain in effect.

[Dschur]

Coconino has removed all closures and restrictions.

There is still a closure due to the Tinder Fire not because of Fire Restrictions...

[lhalloran]

What splendid news!

[kelly14]

Prescott National Forest lifting closures and fire restrictions Tomorrow morning at 8:00am