Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Sorted by date Results 1 - 16 of 16
West & Preacher Fire Daily Update: September 12, 2024 West Fire - 1782 Acres Start Date: August 28, 2024 Location: Payson Ranger District, AZ Personnel: 481 Preacher Fire - 3161 Acres Cause: Lightning Containment: 0% Fuels: Ponderosa Pine, Mixed Conifer, Chaparral Highlights/Operations: Firefighters held the perimeter on both fires yesterday in anticipation of increased winds. On the West Fire, some ignitions were conducted on top of the Rim to encourage beneficial moderate fire intensity above... Full story
Acres: 11,162 Location: South of Roosevelt Lake on the edge of the Superstition Wilderness Personnel: 379 Containment: 45% Resources: 9 Crews | 4 Engines | 5 Helicopters | 3 Bulldozers | 6 Water Tenders Start Date: July 11, 2024 Cause: Lightning Fuels: Tall Grass and Brush Highlights: Gila County Division of Emergency Management along with the Gila County Sheriff's Office lifted evacuation orders for all residences affected by the Black Fire except for the Reavis Mountain School, which remains... Full story
Size: 1089 acres Start Date: August 16, 2023 Cause: Lightning Completion: 35% Total personnel: 200 Location: 11 miles northeast of Young, Arizona and 27 miles east of Payson, Arizona Fuels: Ponderosa Pine, Hardwood litter and timber Highlights: Gila County Sheriff's Office announced yesterday that the communities of Ponderosa Estates and Colcord Estates have been placed into SET status. This decision was made by Forest Officials, the Fire Management Team, and Gila County Sheriff's Office for... Full story
PHOENIX, August 29, 2022 – In observance of the Labor Day holiday, Tonto National Forest district ranger offices along with the Supervisor's Office will be closed Monday, Sept. 5, 2022. Ranger district offices will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, Sept. 6 along with the Supervisor's Office. Note, the Supervisor's Office is only open Tuesdays and Thursdays due to a staffing shortage. The Forest Service offers the following tips to help visitors safely enjoy their visit: Campfires c... Full story
PHOENIX – November 8, 2021 — The Tonto National Forest Supervisor's Office along with all ranger district offices will be closed Thursday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day. Ranger district offices will resume normal business hours on Friday, November 12. The Supervisor's Office remains temporarily closed to the public. People visiting the Tonto on November 11 also can enjoy many day-use recreation sites -- such as picnic grounds, shorelines, and boat launches operated by the Tonto --... Full story
PHOENIX, October 5, 2021 — Tonto National Forest officials signed the Final Record of Decision for the forest's Travel Management Plan today. Today's release of the Final Record of Decision is the culmination of a Forest-wide, multi-year planning effort that designates a more sustainable motorized transportation system for recreation, administrative and emergency response access. Following several years of public input and analyzing comments and objections, Forest Supervisor Neil Bosworth is r... Full story
Apache Lake Marina and Burnt Corral Campground will close to the public Friday, 8 a.m. PHOENIX, July 1, 2021 — Firefighters are responding to a wildfire, named the Painted Fire, on the Tonto National Forest east of Forest Road 80 near Horse Mesa Dam and Apache Lake. The Painted Fire was reported late Wednesday afternoon and is burning approximately 3 miles west of Apache Lake Marina. The lightning-caused fire has burned approximately 835 acres in dry thick brush and grass. Visitors to the f... Full story
Forest Service News Release Public Affairs Contact: John Scaggs (602) 702-0597 john.scaggs@usda.gov www.fs.usda.gov/tonto Tonto to waive day-use fees for upcoming National Get Outdoors Day PHOENIX, June 10, 2021 – Visitors to the Tonto National Forest (Tonto) will be able to enjoy many day-use recreation sites – such as picnic grounds, shorelines, and boat launches operated by the Tonto – without having to purchase a pass on June 12 in celebration of National Get Outdoors Day. Fees charg... Full story
'Know Before You Go' Tonto National Forest Has Initiated Stage 1 Fire Restrictions Current drought conditions in central Arizona resulted in the Tonto National Forest (Tonto) entering Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on May 14 beginning at 8 a.m. in an effort to protect public health by reducing the number of preventable, human-caused wildfires. Restrictions will remain in effect until forest officials determine that conditions have changed sufficiently to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires.... Full story
EVENING UPDATE: Sears Fire - Oct. 1 PHOENIX, Oct. 1, 2020 -Firefighters continue to patrol, monitor and mop up hotspots along the perimeter of the Sears Fire. The fire remains at 14,476 acres and is now 48 percent contained. Higher temperatures today caused an increase in fire activity which resulted in an unburned pocket of vegetation to ignite within the fire's interior, however there was no threat of it spotting over containment lines. Fire crews continue to monitor and protect critical... Full story
As of May 15, many of the Tonto National Forest's developed recreation sites have opened for use. This includes all developed sites for the lower Salt River and Saguaro Lake, most developed sites at Apache, Canyon, and Roosevelt Lakes. Bartlett Lake sites are also open. "In conjunction with Governor Ducey's phased reopening of Arizona, we are opening many popular sites on the forest for public use and enjoyment," Tonto National Forest Supervisor Neil Bosworth said. "We recognize the importance... Full story
Tonto Has Implemented Stage 2 Fire Restrictions The Tonto National Forest has begun Stage 2 Fire Restrictions in conjunction with other federal and state land management agencies in Arizona. According to Tonto National Forest Supervisor Neil Bosworth, rising temperatures and an increase in drying trends of grass fuel loads resulting from above average winter moisture prompted the decision to implement these fire restrictions. "Arizona's wet winter has created a carpet of grasses which are now cu... Full story
The Tonto National Forest will begin the orderly closure of the following developed recreation sites as early as Monday, March 23, to protect public health and safety and align with state and local measures already in place to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. The developed recreation site closures will remain in effect until further notice. The Forest Service thanks all visitors and partners for their cooperation. Please report any instances of vandalism to facilities to the local ranger district... Full story
The Forest Service continues the fence project in the Lower Salt River area to comply with state agreement to help minimize horse-related accidents. PHOENIX, January 11, 2020 - For Immediate Release. Tonto National Forest staff continue to oversee contracted installation of 14 miles of fence in the Lower Salt River area on the Mesa Ranger District as part of a joint effort to prevent horses from crossing Bush Highway, which endangers the animals and the public. The established fence line also... Full story
PHOENIX, January 27, 2020 - For Immediate Release. Fire specialists plan to burn 210 acres of vegetative debris piles Jan. 29-31. Ignitions will occur about nine miles north of Payson in the vicinity of Shadow Rim Girl Scout Ranch. Residents and visitors to the area can expect to see and smell light-to-moderate amounts of smoke during the three-day operation. Smoke will impact Shadow Rim, Verde Glen, and Rim Trail during the day. In the evening, smoke will impact Whispering Pines and Beaver... Full story
Permits to cut your own Christmas tree will be available starting Nov. 20 at Tonto National Forest offices. The Tonto National Forest will sell Christmas tree permits starting on Thursday, Nov. 20. Permits will be available at the Mesa and Payson Ranger Districts and the Tonto Supervisors Office, Monday –Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The Pleasant Valley Ranger District will be open for permit sales on Thursdays and Fridays, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. In addition, the Payson Ranger District will be open on... Full story