The Tonto National Forest will enter Stage 1 fire restrictions starting Thursday morning at 8 a.m. 

The restrictions include recreational shooting bans, officials said, in order to protect firefighters and the public. Most fires are banned, including charcoal barbecues outside of those provided by the Forest Service and then, only in specific areas. 

A wet monsoon last year and a snowy winter in 2023 created an abundance of grass growth that’s now posing an elevated danger. Still there’s optimism for the new monsoon year.

"Hopefully they come early and we get a lot of rain with them," said Bill Crews from the forest’s Mesa Ranger District.

For context, last year, several national forests in Arizona imposed restrictions by the first week of May.