Alerts & Closures

Alerts Archive

June 2024

• EVACUATIONS: 136th Street to 144th Street to Dove Valley Rd to Tonto Boundary

  Date(s): Jun 28, 2024

  GO (EVACUATE): 136th Street to 144th Street to Dove Valley Road to the Tonto National Forest boundary.

  ***UPDATED SET (pre-evacuate): 136th St to Box Bar Rd, Rio Verde Rd to Dove Valley due to the Boulder View Wildfire.

  Get the Latest Evacuation Updates

  Follow MCSO Emergency Management to get the latest alerts for ready, Set, Go. 

  Maricopa County Emergency Management

  Shelters

  The Red Cross has set up a shelter at the
  Cactus Shadows High School
  5802 E Dove Valley Rd
  Scottsdale, AZ
  Map

  Road Closure

  Bartlett Dam Road is closed at Cave Creek Road due to suppression efforts.

  Additional news and updates

  • InciWeb
  • Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management alerts
  • Ready, Set, Go 
  • Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management on Facebook
• NEVER Bring or Use Fireworks on Federal Lands. It is Illegal.

  Date(s): Jun 26, 2024 - Jul 7, 2024

  Reminder: Fireworks and Pyrotechnics are never allowed on federal lands. Review the forest order for full details - Fireworks, Explosives and Sparks Restrictions.

  What is Prohibited

  Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50 (a) the following are prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) lands, roads, trails in the Southwestern Region National Forests and Grasslands in the states of New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and Oklahoma, described below and shown on the forest order map which are Exhibits A and B (the “Described Area”):

  1. Possessing, discharging or using any kind of firework, or other pyrotechnic device. 36 CFR § 261.52(f)
  2. Using an explosive. 36 CFR § 261.52(b)
     1. An explosive is defined as any chemical compound, mixture, or device, the primary or common purpose of which is to function by explosion. The term includes, but is not limited to, dynamite and other high explosives, black powder, pellet powder, initiating explosives, detonators, safety fuses, squibs, detonating cord, igniter cord, and igniters.
  3. Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order in accordance with U.S. Forest Service Standard 5100-1d. 36 CFR § 261.52(j)

  Described Area Where this Order Applies

  The Described Area includes the following National Forests and Grasslands in their entirety:

  Arizona

  • Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests
  • Coconino National Forest
  • Coronado National Forest
  • Kaibab National Forest
  • Prescott National Forest
  • Tonto National Forest

  New Mexico

  • Carson National Forest
  • Cibola National Forest
  • Gila National Forest
  • Lincoln National Forest
  • Santa Fe National Forest
  • Kiowa National Grasslands

  Oklahoma/Texas

  • Black Kettle & McClellan National Grasslands
  • Rita Blanca National Grasslands

  Purpose

  The purpose of this Order is for the protection of public health and safety.

  Implementation

  • This Order shall be in effect from June 1, 2023 at 6:00 am through May 31, 2026, unless rescinded.
  • A violation of the above prohibitions is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551; 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.
  • This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same Described Area.

  More Information

  Contact the USDA Forest Service Southwestern Region in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for more information about this Order.

• 03-12-00-24-24 Emergency Stage 1 Fire Restrictions Entire Forest

  Date(s): Jun 3, 2024 - Sep 30, 2024

  Effective Thursday, June 6, 2024, at 8 a.m. through Sept. 30, 2024, at midnight, unless rescinded.

  Pursuant to 16 U.S.C § 551 and 36 C.F.R § 261.50(a), the following are prohibited on all National Forest System lands (NFS) in the Tonto National Forest, described below and shown on the attached map incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A (the "Described Area"):

  1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, including charcoal and briquettes, outside a structure that is provided by the Forest Service within a designated area. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(a).

  2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least (3) feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of any flammable material. 36 C.F.R § 261.52(d).

  3. Discharging a firearm, air rifle, or gas gun within the Described Area. 36 C.F.R § 261.58(m).

  The purpose of this Order is to provide for the public's health and safety and to protect National Forest System lands, resources, and facilities during the current period of high fire danger. An emergency exists due to the high levels of continuous fine fuel loading, fire danger, indices, and extreme weather conditions. These factors have created an environment in which ignitions from human-caused activities can occur at a much higher rate than normal. Further, wildfires from such ignitions have the propensity to spread extremely quickly, presenting a significant risk to the public, as well as substantial obstacles to firefighters in the implementation of wildfire suppression strategies.

  • Closure Order
  • Exhibit A Map
  • Tonto National Forest Emergency Recreational Shooting Restriction Justification

May 2024

• 03-12-00-24-17 Emergency Stage 1 Fire Restrictions

  Date(s): May 21, 2024 - Jun 6, 2024

  Effective Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 8 a.m. through Sept. 30, 2024, at midnight, unless rescinded.

  Pursuant to 16 U.S.C § 551 and 36 C.F.R § 261.50(a), the following are prohibited on all National Forest System lands (NFS) in the Tonto National Forest, described below and shown on the attached map incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A (the "Described Area"):

  1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, including charcoal and briquettes, outside a structure that is provided by the Forest Service within a designated area. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(a).

  2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least (3) feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of any flammable material. 36 C.F.R § 261.52(d).

  3. Discharging a firearm, air rifle, or gas gun within the Described Area. 36 C.F.R § 261.58(m).

  The purpose of this Order is to provide for the public's health and safety and to protect National Forest System lands, resources, and facilities during the current period of high fire danger. An emergency exists due to the high levels of continuous fine fuel loading, fire danger, indices, and extreme weather conditions. These factors have created an environment in which ignitions from human-caused activities can occur at a much higher rate than normal. Further, wildfires from such ignitions have the propensity to spread extremely quickly, presenting a significant risk to the public, as well as substantial obstacles to firefighters in the implementation of wildfire suppression strategies.

  • Closure Order
  • Exhibit A Map
  • Tonto National Forest Emergency Recreational Shooting Restriction Justification