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Increased Fire activity closes many recreation sites

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Arizona has seen an increase in wildfire activity early in the season for 2020. The biggest one to date is the human caused Bush Fire that has burned  more than 193,000 acres. It was located in the Tonto National Forest and forced temporary evacuations of Tonto Basin, Sunflower and surrounding communities. It is currently at 98 percent containment.

A lightning strike started the Bighorn Fire in the Catalina Mountains northwest of Tucson, on the Coronado National Forest.  That fire is 75 percent contained and has burned more than 118,000 acres. Dry, windy conditions pushed the fire closer to communities and forced evacuations.

Polles Fire

Firefighters are actively fighting a lightning caused wildfire burning within the remote Mazatzal Wilderness, approximately 11 miles west of Payson. The fire started as the result of a passing isolated thunderstorms on Friday, July 3. The fire is in rough and rugged terrain that is only accessible by helicopter. Hotshot crews have been flown in by helicopter and suppression efforts have been supported by airtankers delivering fire retardant and helicopters dousing the flames. Firefighters were challenged by sustained high winds, high temperatures and low humidity yesterday causing an increase in fire behavior. A nighttime increase in humidity allowed firefighters to make progress in building containment line as they worked late into the evening. Winds are expected to be less today than yesterday, but firefighters will continue to be challenged by high temperatures, dry conditions, as well as the rugged terrain.  An additional hotshot crew and a Type 2 Initial Attack crew are being flown in this morning for a total of four crews on the fire taking direct suppression action, again supported by aviation.

Some lakes, forest roads will remain accessible

Ongoing extreme fire danger due to dry conditions and hot temperatures following a wet winter that produced an abundance of dry brush and grass, have led Tonto officials to close the state’s largest national forest beginning on July 2, 2020.
The Stage 3 Forest Closure means that all National Forest System lands contained within the Tonto are closed to the public, with the exception of the following:
Open areas:

• Roosevelt Lake - Beginning at the intersection of State Route (SR) 188 and Forest Route (FR) 84 Grapevine Road, then north along FR 84 to the east side of Grapevine Boat Ramp at the waterline of Roosevelt Lake. Then following the waterline east to the confluence of the Salt River. Then continuing along the Roosevelt Lake waterline northwest to the confluence of Tonto Creek. Then up Tonto Creek to FR 60 then southwest to SR 188 and southeast along SR 188 back to the intersection of FR 84. Note – Bermuda Flat, Cholla Bay and Bachelor Cove Shoreline Areas are closed.
• Bartlett Reservoir - Beginning at Bartlett Dam along the waterline south and then east and then north up to the confluence of the Verde River. Then following the western waterline south down to the Yellow Cliffs Boat Ramp and SB Cove Day Use Areas which are open, then south down the waterline to the Rattlesnake Day Use Area which is open. Then south along the waterline to the Jojoba boat launch which is open, then up FR 19A to FR 19, then south to FR 185 and Bartlett Marina, which is open. Then back down to the waterline of Bartlett Reservoir and then south along waterline back to Bartlett Dam.
• Canyon Lake – Starting at Mormon Flat Dam south along Mormon Flat Dam access road to SR 88 then east along SR 88 to Tortilla Creek Drainage then following drainage northwest to Canyon Lake waterline then along waterline to the base of Horse Mesa Dam then along waterline back to Mormon Flat Dam.
• Saguaro Lake & Lower Salt River – Starting at Stewart Mountain Dam following waterline east to Mormon Flat Dam then along waterline west to the courtesy dock near the end of Forest Road 206 (Saguaro Del Norte Recreation Area) above the lake. Then following FR 206B to the Bush Highway, then north along the Bush Highway to SR 87 then along SR 87 to the Forest Boundary. Then following the Forest Boundary south and west and across the Salt River to the Bush Highway. Then along Bush Highway east to the Blue Point Bridge, then following the southern bank of the Salt River around east back to the Stewart Mountain Dam. Houston Mesa Campground – Elk, Black Bear, and Mountain Lion Loops
• Tortilla Flat Restaurant
• Roosevelt Lakeview Mobile Home Park off of SR 188 at Roosevelt Lake, but not beyond the park.
Open roads:
• Bush Highway (FR 204)
• FR 19 to Bartlett Reservoir Jojoba Boat Launch and Bartlett Marina
• FR 459A to Rattlesnake Day Use Area
• FR 459 to Yellow Cliffs Boat Launch and SB Cove Day Use Area
• FR 582 from SR 87 to the Buckhead Mesa Landfill
• FR 583 from SR 87 to Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
Violations of these restrictions are punishable as a Class B misdemeanor, which means a fine of up to $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment of up to six months, or both. Fines and punishments are determined by a federal court judge.
For more information and to view the closure order visit the Tonto National Forest Website.