April 30th, 2025
PHOENIX – With increasing fire danger across Arizona, Tonto National Forest officials will implement emergency stage 2 fire restrictions and recreational shooting restrictions for the entire forest beginning Thursday, May 1 at 8 a.m.
These emergency stage 2 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.
Emergency stage 2 fire restrictions prohibit the following activities when visiting the Tonto National Forest:
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).
Exemptions to Emergency Stage 2 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 resource in the performance of an official duty.
Persons with a written Forest Service authorization specifically exempting them from the effect of this order.
Persons engaged in legal hunting activity pursuant to State, Federal, or Tribal laws and regulations are allowed to discharge a firearm while taking wildlife.
The public can play a key role in preventing wildfire by making sure their vehicles are properly maintained to reduce the chances of having to pull off the road due to car issues.
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 & Warnings.
The public can obtain current state and federal fire restrictions information across Arizona on the Arizona Interagency Wildfire Prevention and Information website. back...
These emergency stage 2 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.
Emergency stage 2 fire restrictions prohibit the following activities when visiting the Tonto National Forest:
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).
Exemptions to Emergency Stage 2 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 resource in the performance of an official duty.
Persons with a written Forest Service authorization specifically exempting them from the effect of this order.
Persons engaged in legal hunting activity pursuant to State, Federal, or Tribal laws and regulations are allowed to discharge a firearm while taking wildlife.
The public can play a key role in preventing wildfire by making sure their vehicles are properly maintained to reduce the chances of having to pull off the road due to car issues.
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 & Warnings.
The public can obtain current state and federal fire restrictions information across Arizona on the Arizona Interagency Wildfire Prevention and Information website. back...
