Campground at Roosevelt Lake Closed Due to Fire Risk

The Tonto National Forest has temporarily closed a popular campground at Theodore Roosevelt Lake, citing a high risk of wildfire.

The Bermuda Flat Shoreline Area closure is happening because the reservoir, northeast of the Phoenix area, is at 75 percent capacity, higher than normal for this time of year. That means there's no space along the shore for campsites, but that hasn't stopped campers from parking close to shrubs and trees, which can easily start a fire, a forest official told KTAR last week.

Additionally, weeds and grasses that grew during Arizona's wet winter are drying out, creating more potential wildfire fuel.

There were two small human-caused fires on the Tonto National Forest over Easter weekend, and several other recent small blazes.

No end date for the closure was specified, but the forest said it would end once the reservoir recedes enough — possibly when the summer monsoon begins in mid-June.