Bush Fire

[nonot]

BUSH FIRE EVENING UPDATE: The Bush Fire started at approximately 2:00 pm today, near the intersection of Bush Hwy and Hwy 87. The fire is estimated to be 600 acres, and burning to the north towards the Sugarloaf Recreation area along the southbound lanes of Hwy 87. The fire has crossed Hwy 87 to the east and is now burning along Four Peaks Road. There is no containment at this time.

Currently there are 9 engines, 2 hotshot crews and 4 airtankers assigned to the fire. Three additional crews and multiple engines have been ordered, and are responding to the fire. Firefighters are working to hold the fire on the west side of Hwy 87, and are building containment lines and using firing operations to suppress the fire.

Hwy 87 is currently closed in both directions at the FS RD 143, which is the road to Four Peaks and Sugarloaf. At this time, Lower Sycamore Canyon, Sugarloaf Recreation area and Four Peaks Recreation area are closed. The Bush Fire is currently under investigation. Law enforcement personnel are conducting sweeps of the closure areas to safely escort members of public out of the fire area. No structures are threatened at this time and no injuries have been reported.

TLDR: 87 is closed at 4 peaks road and you will have to go through globe to get to payson

Edit: Now the reroute through globe is no longer viable, access between payson and phoenix is via camp verde

Edit2: Fire has been contained and the highways reopened, thanks to the firefighter crews.

[DixieFlyer]

@hiking_arizona
no, the modified closure is still in effect, per the Tonto NF website

[hiking_arizona]

what does the modified closure allow? is that just fr143?

[CannondaleKid]

@hiking_arizona
From the EAST, FR 143 is open from AZ 188 up to Lone Pine TH.
From the WEST, FR 143 is open only as far as the junction with FR 401, which is about 2 miles in from AZ 87)

Closure Map:

fseprd857162.pdf

Bush Fire Closure Map

(463.42 KiB) Downloaded 152 times

The Rolls map:

fseprd857160.pdf

The Rolls OHV Map

(1.14 MiB) Downloaded 239 times

[chumley]

@hiking_arizona (and many other lurkers who read posts here:) since @cannondalekid won't always be around to specifically answer your questions, closures on the Tonto National Forest can always be found on their official website homepage (https://www.fs.usda.gov/tonto/) by clicking on the "Alerts & Notices" menu.
Tonto National Forest Alerts & Notices: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices
The following are found at that link:
--Bush Fire Updated Closure Order: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 857161.pdf
--Bush Fire Closure Map: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 857162.pdf (posted above)
--Bush Fire OHV Map: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 857160.pdf (posted above)

[DixieFlyer]

@DixieFlyer
I saw this on the Tonto NF Facebook Page:
"The #TontoNF will be terminating the Bush Post Fire Flooding Public Safety Closure Order effective Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, at 8 a.m."

Here is a link from the Tonto NF website re rescinding the closure: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tonto/ne ... EPRD881667

[Nighthiker]

Thanks for the info rescheduled some appointments the next two weeks to the afternoon hope to get a sunrise hike on the way to the valley.