Tonto National Forest enters Emergency Stage 1 Fire and Recreational Target Shooting Restrictions May 15

Phoenix, AZ  — With increasing fire danger across Arizona, Tonto National Forest officials will implement emergency stage 1 fire and recreational shooting restrictions for the entire forest beginning Friday, May 15, at 8 a.m. These emergency stage 1 fire restrictions also include recreational shooting restrictions to protect the public, wildland firefighters, and our natural resources from the risk of a recreational shooting-caused ignition due to very high fire danger conditions across the forest. Restrictions will remain in effect until Forest Service officials determine that conditions have changed sufficiently to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires. The decision to implement emergency fire and shooting restrictions is based on various factors, including fire danger criteria, live fuel moistures, observed fire behavior, control difficulty, resource availability, predicted weather, potential high-risk ignition events, and other factors. This decision was made in conjunction with other federal and state land management agencies in Arizona. Stage 1 Fire Restrictions prohibit the following acts when visiting the Tonto: Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, including charcoal and briquettes, outside a structure that is provided by the Forest Service within a designated area. Fire structure is a permanent metal or concrete structure specifically designed to contain a campfire or cooking fire that the Forest Service or equivalent installed and maintains. Designated areas are developed recreation sites such as campgrounds and picnic areas that are maintained and administered by the Forest Service, shown on the current Forest visitor maps, and equipped with permanent fire structures. A stove fire is a fire built inside a fully enclosed metal stove, grill, or sheep herder type stove, which is outfitted with a chimney that is at least 5 feet in length and is equipped with a spark arrestor consisting of a mesh screen with a screen opening of ¼ inch or less. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least (3) feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of any flammable material. Discharging a firearm, air rifle, or gas gun Exemptions to Stage 1 Fire Restrictions include: Persons using a device solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off. Such devices can only be used in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of the device. Any federal, state, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of official duty. Persons with a written Forest Service authorization specifically exempting them from this Order or a written determination by a Forest Service authorized officer that a permit is not required. Persons engaged in legal hunting activity pursuant to state, federal, or tribal laws and regulations are allowed to discharge a firearm while taking wildlife. Violation of fire restrictions is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and imprisonment for up to six months. For more information regarding the fire restrictions closure order, shooting restrictions and an accompanying map, see Alerts. More information about the Tonto National Forest's stage 1 fire restrictions and recreational target shooting restrictions can be found on the forest's website. The public can obtain current state and federal fire restrictions information across Arizona on the Arizona Interagency Wildfire Prevention and Information website.