Tonto National Forest to ban fires starting Tuesday

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.

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 602225-5200.

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 indy Hill Campground Cholla Campground Grapevine Campground Cottonwood Picnic Site Schoolhouse Campground Burnt Corral Campground