Area closures on Tonto National Forest begin June 21 due to extreme fire conditions - Fireworks prohibited at all times
Release Date: Jun 20, 2012
Payson, Ariz. (June 20, 2012) –Public safety concerns due to drought conditions, hot temperatures, and increased fire danger have resulted in two temporary area closures on the Tonto National Forest beginning at 8 a.m., Thursday, June 21. The area closures are within the following boundaries:
All National Forest System Lands, roads and trails described as follows: Beginning at Forest Road 708 at the Fossil Springs Trailhead thence proceeding southeasterly along the power line corridor following the Mazatzal Wilderness Boundary; thence easterly along the power line corridor to the junction of Forest Trail 540 (FT540); thence easterly and southeasterly along the power line corridor to the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park; thence easterly along Forest System Road 583 to State Highway 87; thence southerly following State Highway 87 to the Intersection with State Highway 260; thence easterly along State Highway 260 to the junction of the Colcord Road (Forest Road 291); thence easterly and southerly along FR 291 to Forest Road 512; thence northerly along FR 512 to the Forest boundary at the top of the Mogollon Rim; thence westerly along the Mogollon Rim and Tonto National Forest Boundary to the Fossil Springs Trailhead at Forest Road 708.
All National Forest System Lands, roads and trails within the Mt Ord, Four Peaks and Three Bar Wildlife Area, more specifically described as follows: bounded by Highway 87 on the west beginning at the intersection with Forest System Road 143; thence northerly along the eastern edge of State Highway 87 to the intersection with State Highway 188; thence southerly along the western edge of Highway 188 to the Salt River corridor; thence westerly along the north side of the Salt river corridor including the north shores of Apache Lake, Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake to Cottonwood Creek; thence northerly along Cottonwood creek to the intersection with Forest System Road 401; continuing northerly on Forest System Road 401 to the intersection with Forest System Road 143; thence westerly on Forest System Road 143 terminating at the intersection with State Highway 87.
Forest System Road 583 from State Highway 87 will remain open for access to Tonto Natural Bridge State Park. The Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery operated by the Arizona Game and Fish Department will be closed for public access.
State Highway 87, State Highway 260, and State Highway 188 are open.
County roads through the Tonto National Forest remain OPEN unless the road is specifically closed by the agency managing that road; all National Forest System roads and trails within the described area are closed.
Flagstaff, AZ – The Coconino and Tonto National Forest will be implementing an expanded area closure tomorrow at 8 a.m. in order to protect public health and safety due to extreme fire conditions.
The closure area includes the entire Fossil and Hackberry Mountain area, and borders sections of the Verde River and state Route 260.
Individuals recreating and camping within the closure will be asked to leave and no additional entrance will be allowed until fire danger lessens.
This emergency closure is necessary in order to protect the extraordinary Wild and Scenic Fossil Creek from wild fire risk given the extremely dry conditions, entrapment potential and remoteness.
The public is welcome to call 928-226-4611 for the latest closure information. Fire prevention is a priority, and forest officials are adopting a zero tolerance policy. Citations will be issued for all entry and fire and smoking violations.