<span class="medium">Tonto National Forest Lifts Fire Restrictions, Closures</span>

PHOENIX - All fire restrictions and closure orders affecting the Tonto National Forest have now been lifted. The restrictions, which covered the entire forest, are no longer needed because fire danger has been reduced by increased moisture and humidity from the annual monsoon season. These same wetter conditions have prompted officials to reopen closed areas. We want to thank everyone for their patience and understanding as we had to restrict access and activities on the Tonto during this fire season, said Tonto Forest Supervisor Gene Blankenbaker. We also appreciate our users supporting and observing the rules; we had a difficult fire season that was made a little easier by the small number of human-caused fires. Closure orders encompassing areas burned by the Cave Creek and Edge fires are being proposed for public safety and to allow lands damaged by these fires time to recover. All other areas that were affected by closures, including the western half of the Superstition Mountains, the Sycamore Creek and Rolls areas along Highway 87 and Fossil Creek in the northern Cave Creek District, have all been reopened. For more information, visit the Tonto website at www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto or call 602.225.5200.