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Area closures for Coconino NF go into effect tomorrow FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., May 22, 2018, For Immediate Release – Coconino
National Forest will temporarily close six large areas to public access beginning tomorrow (May 23) at 8 a.m. due to fire danger and for public safety.
All areas of the national forest outside of the closures remain in Stage 2 Fire Restrictions. The following areas will be closed: Flagstaff Ranger District
·
San Francisco Peaks/Mt. Elden area
·
Pumphouse Wash/Kelly Canyon area
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Fisher Point/Walnut Canyon area Mogollon Rim Ranger District
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Mogollon Rim area south of state Routes 260 and 87 Red Rock Ranger District
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Mogollon Rim area south of state Route 260 For details and maps of these specific closure areas and the boundaries, please visit
www.CoconinoNationalForest.us and
click on the Closures graphic in the upper right corner. Some forest roads that are used as boundaries of the closure areas are closed to public access and will have barricades or a gate swung across it. Do not enter these
roads and areas or go around barricades or gates. There may be some who have not yet been contacted in these large
closure areas before gates are closed and locked. People who get locked behind gates must call the ranger station of the district in which they are located to get help
exiting the area:
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Flagstaff Ranger Station: (928) 526-0866 (8 a.m.-4 p.m., press 0 to reach a representative)
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Mogollon Rim Ranger Station: (928) 477-2255 (8 a.m.-4 p.m.)
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Red Rock Ranger Station: (928) 203-2900 (8 a.m.-4 p.m., press 0 to reach a person) If after business hours, please contact the Forest Service Dispatch Center at (928) 527-3552. Forest and district leadership carefully decide which areas meet specific criteria for closure, which
include, but are not limited to, the following:
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Fire danger: Areas where the moisture
content level is extremely low, as indicated by the Energy Release Component.
·
Vulnerability: Areas that are
most vulnerable to fire suppression efforts due to inaccessibility, limited resources, and are difficult to evacuate people quickly and safely.
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Values at risk from wildfire:
Values such as life, private property, communities, critical watersheds, trailheads, campgrounds, utility corridors, and critical infrastructure, etc.
·
Topography: Areas with steep slopes
and canyons that are difficult to access and effectively suppress wildfires, which often align with traditional wind directions.
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Cohesiveness with neighboring national forests:
The Coconino NF borders several other national forests, which have implemented closure areas that abut the boundary of the Coconino NF. We try to be consistent in areas across boundaries to reduce confusion. Closures and fire restrictions will be lifted when sufficient precipitation is received to adequately
reduce the risk of wildfire, and hot, dry weather conditions are not forecast to continue. A closure across the entire national forest may be implemented in the future if dry and hot conditions persist without precipitation. Violating closures and fire restrictions is a violation that carries a mandatory appearance in federal
court, punishable as a Class B misdemeanor with a fine of up to $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or up to six months in prison, or both. ###
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Attachment:
News Release.pdf
Description: News Release.pdf
