UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FOREST SERVICE TONTO NATIONAL FOREST
CAVE CREEK RANGER DISTRICT
Public Fire Safety Closure Order

PROHIBITIONS

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a), the following acts are prohibited within the area described in this Order (the “Restricted Area”) and as depicted on the attached map, hereby incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A, all within the Tonto National Forest, Maricopa County, Arizona.1.   Going into or being upon the Restricted Area.36 C.F.R.§261.52(e).EXEMPTIONSPursuant to 36 CFR § 261.50 (e), the following persons are exempt from this order:1.   Persons with a written Forest Service authorization specifically exempting them from the effect of this Order.
2.   Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of any organized rescue or firefighting resource in the performance of an official duty.
 
RESTRICTED AREA

Beginning at National Forest System Road (NFSR) 41 and the forest boundary, proceeding east along the north side of NFSR 41 to the junction with NFSR 24, then south along the western edge of NFSR 24 for approximately 16 miles to the forest boundary, then following the Forest boundary West and North for approximately 21 miles to the junction with NFSR 41.  (as depicted in Exhibit A).

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Order is to close access into the Restricted Area during firefighting andemergency operations for the protection of public health and safety.
Order Number: 03-12-01-20-403

IMPLEMENTATION

1.   This Order will be in effect at 2000. on August 28, 2020 and shall remain in effect until September 30, 2020 or until rescinded, whichever occurs first.
2.   A map identifying the Restricted Area is attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit A.
3.   Any violation of this prohibition is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals or $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both (see16 U.S.C.551, 18 U.S.C.3571(b)(6), 18 U.S.C.3581(b)(7)).
4.    Further information regarding this Order may be obtained at the Tonto National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Phoenix, Arizona, (602)225-5200, or at Cave Creek Ranger District Office, (480) 595-3300.

Dated this 29th day of August 2020, at Phoenix, Arizona
NEIL BOSWORTH
Forest Supervisor
 

 TONTO NATIONAL FOREST – August 29th 2020 

Location: Seven Springs Rd/FS Road 562                      Date Detected: 8/28/2020

Size: 620 acres                                                              Containment: 0%

 Fire has been confirmed at 32 acres and dozer lines are now 100% complete. Firefighters are working on remaining hot spots within the fire and the fire is showing no visible fire behavior.  

The fire is showing little to no fire behavior as Air Tankers (SEATS) worked the fire and stopped forward growth. Dozers have made good progress around the fire achieving 75% containment. Firefighters will continue to improve containment lines and mop up the fire with engine crews. 

The Whitetail Fire is 20 acres, 100% contained and has been turned back over to the local fire departments to monitor.

Whitetail Fire: estimated 12 acres, 0% contained
Location: approximately 16 miles northwest of Fredericksburg, Texas

Resources have begun fire suppression efforts. Dozer crews are constructing containment line in oak and brush where access is poor. Engine crews are patrolling constructed line for hot spots and mopping up.

Fire Weather: Any chances for wetting rains remain very slim through the  weekend. Hot and dry conditions will persist with minimum RH
25 to 30 percent. Winds will be southerly, gusty at times overnight. Relative humidity will recover to near 75% overnight. A pattern change next week Tuesday and Wednesday will bring in a chance for showers and thunderstorms although widespread rains  still look to be scarce at this time.

The Sands 2 Fire is 51.4 acres, 100% contained and has been turned back over to the local fire departments to monitor.

Sands 2 Fire: estimated 55 acres, 90% contained
Location: approximately 10 miles northwest of Monahans, Texas

Resources made significant progress last night on fire suppression and containment. Crews have returned to continue patrolling and mopping up any hot spots along the fire perimeter.  

Fire Weather: Temperatures will climb above 100F by 1PM with sunny skies this afternoon. Winds will be a bit more variable this morning between ESE and SE before settling SE by 10am onward. Speeds will reside between 5-10mph in the morning, increasing towards 8-13mph in the afternoon with some gusts.
Mixing heights elevated during the afternoon hours, settling at sunset. No precipitation in the forecast for the next 36 hrs. Low potential for large plume fires due to limited 20ft winds forecast.

Sands 2 Fire: estimated 50 acres, 50% contained
Location: approximately 10 miles northwest of Monahans, Texas

Dozer crews continue to make progress constructing containment line. Engine crews are patrolling the containment line for slop overs, mopping up any hot spots, and performing burn out operations when safe to do so.  

Hidden Fire – September 3, 2020 Morning Update

Acres: 6107

Percent Containment: 29%

Start Date: August 25, 2020

Injuries: 0

Cause: Lightning

Origin Location: Sierra Ancha Mountains, Tonto NF

Successful Firefighting Operations Continue on the Hidden Fire 

YESTERDAY: There was no growth on the fire yesterday. Helicopter bucket drops kept areas of heat in check. Crews continued to work on securing, patrolling and mopping up containment lines. Warmer weather and lower humidity caused increased fire activity within the perimeter as expected. The increase in heat ignited unburned interior pockets of fuel in burnout areas, helping to secure containment within the existing footprint.

TODAY’S ACTIVITY: Warmer weather today will continue to support burning operations, as interior pockets of brushy fuel ignite and burn out, lessening the potential for fire growth beyond containment lines. Firefighters will continue their focus on securing and mopping up fire lines. Masticators will be used for suppression repair work in areas where contingency and protection work was completed.

AIR SUPPORT: Due to the increased fire activity throughout the Southwest and California air support is limited. We are utilizing shared resources of air tankers and helicopters with our neighboring Type 1 Incident Management Team.

HIDDEN FIRE CLOSURE ORDERS:

• Please visit Tonto NF website for closure information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tonto/home/?cid=FSEPRD759501

• Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Hidden-Fire-Info-108681537629349

• View the closure order and map here: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7094/54530/

Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. The temporary flight restriction in place over the fire area please visit: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_0_8593.html for additional information. As a reminder, every time a drone is seen near the fire all aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of the area. For more information visit Know Before You Fly, http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Fire Information Public Phone Line: 520-261-5021

Fire Information Media Phone Line: 520-369-3757

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7046/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Superstition-Fire-Info-102207198283449

Smoke Outlook: wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/EasternArizona

Wildfire Smoke and COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/smoke-faq