HikeArizona.COM

Stage 1 fire restrictions starting Friday, February 28th at 8:00 a.m.

Holbrook, AZ – On Tuesday, February 25th, the voting members of the White Mountain Fire Coordinating Group (WMFCG) convened to assess current forest conditions and weather patterns throughout the region. The members voted to recommend the enactment of Stage 1 fire restrictions in the unincorporated areas of Apache and Navajo Counties on Friday, February 28th, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. Several other agencies, including the USFS Apache-Sitgreaves Forests, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, and select municipalities, will also implement similar restrictions.

Notably, Apache-Sitgreaves NF, which is part of the group, has not publicly posted the restriction yet (could just be that they don't currently employ anybody who can work their website -- A-S has always been a little slow on their comms team), though they are listed as a participating agency in the attached press release.

Apache-Sitgreaves NF spans the forest land along the Mogollon Rim across central and eastern Arizona from Knoll Lake to the New Mexico state line.

@Nighthiker
Drove by that myself. It was kind of sad; an older guys pickup had caught fire and, by time I passed, his truck was t on fire anymore but he had clearly tried pulling a bunch of stuff out the bed of the truck but it all looked toast. Poor guy was just walking around with his head down fire was spreading pretty fast

Man, what is it with that area and vehicle fires?

@RedRoxx44

RedRoxx44 wrote:Hwy 77 is closed

Per AZ511 77 is open.

Update on the Cody Fire-- although small 5 homes have burned and 8 other structures; containment up to 47% so it should be done soon.

@RedRoxx44 - I just hope that the structures around American Flag came through unscathed but I'm not hopeful.

Missed this one as I think it's already done. Broadway Fire near Ehrenberg briefly closed the Oxbow Recreation area; now open. Near Az Cali border. Unique because they got to use Fire Boats on this one. Again some good photos on the " Hotshot" part user name on X.

Jacobson Fire Turkey Flat Area Mt. Graham. Started about 930 pm Monday, six acres.

@Nighthiker They should "manage" it until it destroys the entire mountain. Oh, wait. They did that 8 years ago. Nevermind.

Re Jacobson Fire--- from the Gila Herald
"The Jacobson Fire was reported at about 9:35 p.m. on Monday, southeast of the Lower Turkey Flat area. burning through Jacob Canyon. Despite Stage 2 fire restrictions, several reports of campfires were reported. As of about 6 a.m., on Tuesday,, the fire was listed at about 8 acres with 0 percent containment."
The title of the article is " Mt Graham is on FIre" they should have added "Again".

@RedRoxx44
In my opinion (which means nothing) it should be automatic jail time for having a campfire, shooting, etc. during restrictions. People just don't care and will do what they want.

Jacobson fire at eight acres and forty-four percent contained.

Coconino and Prescott NF enact Stage 1 fire restrictions effective 5/30.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/al ... ons-effect
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/prescott/al ... strictions

Tonto, Apache-Sitgreaves, and Coronado NF continue to be in Stage 2.

I saw where there have been 14 named wildfires in southern Arizona so far this year. Of the 14, 8 are confirmed to be human caused; 4 are suspected to have been caused by humans; and 2 were caused by lightning.
https://www.kold.com/2025/06/06/one-cit ... n-arizona/

The article names the Parker and the Ranch Fires as lightning caused. Both started after the rain on the 1st. Continuous fuels existed as grass between the ranges ringing the San Rafael grasslands, and that fire could easily have reached the Ritas, Whetstones, Huachucas, and Patagonia Mountains over the month. Possibly even the Rincons. Hard to say, as crossing the San Pedro and moving east from there may have been difficult in desert fuels, but if it got past the San Pedro, the Dragoons and ranges north of I-10 could have been in play, as well as the Pinalenos. My point is that even though only 2 of those fires were "natural", before 1850, that fire could have covered a lot ground.

https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-i ... ranch-fire

Basin Fire NW of Flagstaff. Lighting caused forest service is planning to "Treat" 9,000 acres.

@Nighthiker

Took the words right outa my mouth! I came here to share this link.
https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-i ... 18XKq-BuGQ

It's interesting that the cause of the Greer fire is still under investigation. Transformer malfunction has been rulred out.

They missed the bird remains that spread its wings caused a short and fire.

Odd colors in the sky right now; apparently a new start near Cananea Sonora.

Mount Baldy Wilderness and Greer area temporary closure implemented on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests

SPRINGERVILLE, Ariz. – June 20, 2025 – Due to dry conditions throughout the forests, increased fire danger and for public safety, the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests have implemented a temporary area closure, effective today at 1:00 pm MST. The purpose of this temporary area closure is to provide for the public’s health and safety during periods of high or extreme fire danger with limited escape routes out of the described area, and to close areas that will be difficult to suppress wildland fire if an ignition does occur.

The closure area includes all Forest Service land southwest of Hwy 273 and National Forest System Road (NFSR) #116 to the Ft. Apache Indian Reservation boundary, including the Mount Baldy Wilderness and Gabaldon Campground and the closure of NFSR #116, and all Forest Service land west of Greer between NFSR #112 and NFSR # 87 & Hwy 373, including the Pole Knoll recreation area and the closure of NFSR #112 & 87.

Restrictions and closures typically remain in effect until the area receives significant, widespread precipitation.

For information on closures, restrictions, and other alerts on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests visit our website at www.fs.usda.gov/r03/apache-sitgreaves

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The forest order lists 8/15 as the end date. There is no information on their website, and the map they posted to social media has approximately 6 pixels. Because, of course it does.

Update: the text is now on their website but the image is apparently still uploading via AOL https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/apache-sitg ... ry-closure