Arizona Wildfire Danger Forces Tonto, Coconino Forests Closures

FLAGSTAFF, AZ – The temperature is hot and the fire danger is real. Starting Wednesday morning, large areas of the Coconino National Forest and the Tonto National Forest will be closed to the public.

In Coconino, the closures cover six areas – four in the Flagstaff Ranger District, one in the Mongolian Rim Ranger District, and one in the Red Rock Ranger Districted.

The closures went into effect beginning Wednesday at 8 a.m. "due to fire danger and for public safety."

"Forest closures of any kind are not taken lightly," the forest service said in a statement. (Get Phoenix Patch's real-time news alerts and free morning news letters. Like us on Facebook. Also, download the free Patch iPhone app or free Patch Android app.)

The affected areas are:

Flagstaff Ranger District

• San Francisco Peaks/Mt. Elden area (JPG)
• Kelly Canyon area (JPG)
• Fisher Point area (JPG)
• Mormon Mountain area (JPG)

Mogollon Rim Ranger District

• Mogollon Rim area south of state Route 87 (JPG)

Red Rock Ranger District

• Fossil Creek area (JPG)

At Tonto:

• All land north of Payson to the Forest boundary (Mogollon Rim) between the White Mountain Apache Reservation on the eastern boundary, and the Coconino National Forest on the western boundary. The southern boundary of the closure will start at the Fossil Creek Trailhead and head southeasterly along the power line corridor to Arizona State Highway 87 into Payson and then follow Arizona State Highway 260 east from Payson, along National Forest System Road (NFSR) 405 and NFSR 405A to the National Forest System Trail 178 east along Haigler Creek to the White Mountain Apache Reservation.
• All National Forest System Lands, roads and trails within the Mt. Ord, Four Peaks and Three Bar Wildlife areas.

The rest of the forests outside the closed areas remain under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions.

The forest service says that closures and restrictions will be lifted when there's been enough rain to reduce the risk of wildfires and when dry conditions are not forecast to continue.

A closure across the entire national forest may be implemented in the future if dry and hot conditions persist without precipitation.

Violating closures and fire restrictions is a violation that carries a mandatory appearance in federal court, punishable as a Class B misdemeanor with a fine of up to $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or up to six months in prison, or both.

Photo via USFS - Tonto National Forest.