Tonto National Forest set to conduct pile burn on the Tonto Basin Ranger District
Favorable weather conditions in place for hazardous fuels reduction work
(PHOENIX, Feb. 13, 2026) — Tonto National Forest is planning a pile burn to be conducted Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, pending favorable conditions and required approvals. We use pile prescribed fires to help dispose of vegetation material from thinning projects to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.
Prescribed fires planned for the area include (View Map):
- Tonto Basin Transfer Station
- 83 Green Waste Disposal
The two pits will be closed until it is safe to reopen them. The alternative green waste site at Indian Point will be open.
Watch for warning signs along roads near all prescribed fire areas before and during burns.
Residents may experience smoke during the pile burn in the Tonto Basin area and along SR 188. For more detailed information about air quality, go to AirNow online or download the app. When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights when you encounter smoke on the road.
We will evaluate weather conditions in the hours before a burn begins. If conditions warrant, scheduled prescribed fire activities may be canceled.
Stay informed about the scheduled prescribed fires through the forest website and social media channels. We will notify county emergency management officials when burning begins.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.