High winds and extreme fire conditions expanded the Woodbury Fire to 12,965 acres on Friday June 14 and pushed the blaze towards Apache Lake and the Superstition Wilderness; spurring predictions the fire could cross into Gila County over the weekend. Updates on this and other fires around Arizona are online at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6382

Extreme fire danger has prompted Tonto National Forest to implement fire prohibitions – restrictions that are mirrored by Gila County, where ordinance 11-02 stipulates that each time the Tonto National Forest issues fire restrictions, identical restrictions apply to all unincorporated areas within Gila County. Therefore, fire restrictions for all unincorporated areas within Gila County are in effect when announced by Tonto National Forest.

Gila County’s fire restrictions exclude all incorporated cities and towns, as well as tribal lands. The ordinance prohibits residents from building, maintaining, attending or igniting open outdoor fires, bonfires, campfires, fireworks, or charcoal burning devices. The complete ordinance can be found under “Open Outdoor Fire” at http://gilacountyaz.gov/government/board_of_supervisors/ordinances.php

“The Gila County Sheriff’s Office has a zero-tolerance policy on violations of the County’s Fire Ordinance and the public should expect our officers to be on full alert during this year’s fire season,” said Sheriff Adam Shepherd. Each violation pursuant to this ordinance shall result in a civil penalty not to exceed $500 for each violation. Complete information on Tonto National Forest Fire Restrictions can be found at  www.fs.usda.gov/tonto or by calling the Globe Ranger District at 928-402-6200, the Payson Ranger District at 928-474-7900, the Pleasant Valley Ranger District at 928-462-4300, or the Tonto Basin Ranger District at 602-225-5395. Receive real-time alerts about fires and possible evacuations – sign up for email and text message alerts through Gila County’s emergency alert system (it’s free – and effective) at readygila.com