Tonto National Forest will impose fire restrictions beginning 8 a.m. Tuesday, banning open campfires and other activities that may spark a wildfire.

Rising temperatures have prompted the agency to restrict fires to metal fire rings in developed campsites, which means campers in undeveloped areas must use stoves, lanterns and heating devices. 

The agency has also banned welding equipment, chain saws, or “operating combustion engines without spark-arresting devices,” the agency said in a press release.   

Target shooting is prohibited while the restrictions are in place. Hunting is allowed. Fireworks and explosives are prohibited year-round. Exploding targets and tracer rounds are illegal on public lands. 

MORE: Find the latest wildfire news

Smoking is prohibited except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or at a developed recreation site as long as butts are not tossed on the ground. 

With temperatures climbing, grasses and leaves are drying out and the fire danger is rising, the agency said. 

For more information on fire restrictions, call 602-225-5200, or go to the Tonto Forest’s website.

Campfires are allowed in metal fire rings and grills at the following recreation sites:

Cave Creek Ranger District

Bartlett Lake Recreation Area

Bartlett Lake Marina

Rattlesnake Cove

SB Cove parking lot ramadas with metal charcoal pedestal grills

Yellow Cliff parking lot ramadas with metal charcoal pedestal grills

Seven Springs Recreation Area

Springs Group Site

CCC Campground

Lower Verde Recreation Area

Needle Rock Day Use Picnic Area

Globe Ranger District

Timber Camp Equestrian Group Site

Timber Camp Campground, Brundrett #1 and Brundrett #2

Jones Water Campground

Oak Flat Campground

Kellner Group Recreation Site (once Pinal Fire Area Closure is lifted)

Icehouse CCC Picnic Site (once Pinal Fire Area Closure is lifted)

Sulphide Del Rey Campground

Pinal Campground (once Pinal Fire Area Closure is lifted)

Upper Pinal Campground (once Pinal Fire Area Closure is lifted)

Pioneer Pass Campground (once Pinal Fire Area Closure is lifted)

Mesa Ranger District

Saguaro Del Norte

Butcher Jones

Acacia

Boulder

Laguna

Palo Verde

Granite Reef

Phon D Sutton

Coon Bluff

Saguaro Lake Marina

Canyon Lake Marina

Pebble Beach

Blue Point

Sheeps Crossing

Water Users

Larry Forbis Group Site

Payson Ranger District

Houston Mesa Campground

Houston Mesa Horse Camp

Ponderosa Campground

Christopher Creek Campground

Sharp Creek Campground

Tonto Creek Campground

Tonto Creek Walk-In

Pleasant Valley Ranger District

Colcord Campground

Airplane Flat Campground

Upper Canyon Creek Campground

Tonto Basin Ranger District

Apache Lake Marina

Vineyard Picnic Site

Frazier Campground

Frazier Group Site

Windy Hill Campground

Cholla Campground

Grapevine Campground

Cottonwood Picnic Site

Schoolhouse Campground

Burnt Corral Campground

 

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