Click here to read a press release from the U.S. Forest Service about upcoming prescribed burns.
Fire managers on the Verde Ranger District have several fuel treatments planned October 16th through November 20th; depending on current and expected weather conditions. Tactics to keep smoke impacts as minimal as possible include canceling approved burns when conditions aren’t favorable, timing daytime ignitions to allow the majority of smoke to disperse prior to settling overnight, and burning larger sections at a time when conditions are favorable to reduce the overall number of days smoke is in the area.
Burnt prescribed burn is a 484 acre maintenance burn located on Mingus Mountain just north of Mingus Springs Ranch (T15N, R2E, S22). Vegetation is predominately pine over story with pine needle, grass and harvested logging slash in isolated pockets.
Brushy prescribed burn is a 5375 acre initial entry burn located east of I-17 at Bald Hill (T12N, R4E, S4) in the grass lands.
Crater prescribed burn is a 3046 acre maintenance burn located east of Powell Springs Campground and south of Cherry (T14N, R3E, S29). Vegetation is predominately grass and chaparral.
In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to obey all traffic signs and use caution when traveling in the vicinity of the prescribed fire burn units as firefighters and fire-related traffic will be in the area. Drivers should be prepared for short delays adjacent to the burns on FS roads; however no delays are expected on major highways.
Prescribed fires are one of the most effective tools available to resource managers for restoring fire-adapted ecosystems. These burns will mimic natural fires by reducing hazardous fuels accumulations, and reintroduce fire into a fire dependent system; recycling nutrients and increasing habitat diversity. Prescribed fires are managed with firefighter and public safety as the first priority.
All prescribed fire activity is dependent on the availability of personnel and equipment, weather forecasts, fuels moisture levels and conditions that minimize smoke impacts as best as possible and approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (www.azdeq.gov).
The public can obtain additional fire information via the following: Prescott NF Forest Website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/prescott/
· Twitter: @PrescottNF
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF/
· Fire Information: (928) 925-1111
· Camp Verde Ranger District: (928) 567-4121
