Stage 2 fire restrictions on Tonto National Forest

With increasing fire danger across Arizona, Tonto National Forest officials will implement stage 2 fire restrictions and emergency recreational shooting restrictions for the entire forest beginning Tuesday, June 30 at 8 a.m.

The decision to enter emergency stage 2 fire restrictions was made in conjunction with other federal and state land management agencies in Arizona and 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.

Emergency stage 2 fire restrictions prohibit the following acts when visiting the Tonto:

• No fires, campfires, charcoal, coal and wood stoves
• No smoking (except within an enclosed vehicle, building or developed recreation site)
• No possessing, discharging or using any type of firework or pyrotechnic device. Fireworks are always prohibited on national forests
• No operating a chainsaw or any other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine from the hours of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (except generators with an approved spark arresting device within an enclosed vehicle or building or in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within three feet of the generator)
• No welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame
• No operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order. (This does not include motor vehicles. This is aimed at things such as landscaping tools.)
• No discharging firearms, air rifles or gas guns (except while engaged in a lawful hunt pursuant to state, federal or tribal laws and regulations.)