Partial forest closures set for northern Arizona

Officials knew this fire season was going to be bad.

But the dangerously fire-ripe conditions and a series of destructive wildfires early in the season have prompted a partial closure of multiple forests throughout northern Arizona for the first time in a dozen years.

The U.S. Forest Service announced the closure of several popular areas across the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest Wednesday.

In Apache and Navajo Counties, all state-owned and managed lands closed Friday.

Coconino National Forest closures are expected to start next week.

Many of the closure areas include popular summer destinations, such as the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, Fossil Creek west of Strawberry and a large area of the Mogollon Rim south of State Route 87.

Under the closure, no one is allowed to enter the restricted areas unless they are responding to a wildfire.

Anyone caught violating the order will face a Class-B misdemeanor and a mandatory appearance in federal court.

The last time large swaths of forest were closed like this was in 2006, said George Jozens, deputy public affairs officers for the Coconino National Forest. The full closure was implemented in mid-June and lasted for less than a month.

The decision wasn’t made lightly, said Tiffany Davila, public affairs officer for the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.

“This really is a last resort,” she said. Officials said the closure will likely remain in place until the monsoon rains hit in July. A full closure could be enacted if conditions worsen.

Jozens said the partial closure protects critical watershed areas by limiting the likelihood of a human-caused wildfire. Ultimately, the current level of dryness, weather forecast and the number of fires that have already ravaged thousands of acres of bone-dry land led to the decision to enforce a partial closure.

The Forest Service had even received countless requests via social media to close the forest to protect it.

“They know it’s bad out there,” Jozens said.

All areas outside of the closure remain in Stage 2 fire restrictions, which forbid outdoor burning and campfires, even in developed campgrounds in national forests. They also restrict target shooting, smoking, fireworks, welding and chainsaw use on public lands. Gas grills are allowed.

Stage 2 fire restrictions were enacted in early May because of the fire-prone conditions after a dry winter.

Since then, Jozens said 48 citations have been issued for illegal campfires within the Coconino National Forest.

Visit firerestrictions.us/az for current closure information.