Verde Valley residents have likely seen and smelled wildfire smoke. Fire mangers on the Verde Ranger District are conducting the Hance RX, which is a prescibed grassland burn, between Wednesday, July 15, and Thursday, July 30, when the conditions are most favorable for a successful outcome. Fire managers ignited the blazes just before noon, planning to burn 3,248 acres today, July 15.
The objectives of the burn is to improve native vegetation condition and distribution by reducing shrub and juniper encroachment into the grasslands and reduce current stands of brush. Fire mangers plan to burn available grass and other herbaceous fuels within the selected burn areas which will allow a return to more natural mosaic brush/grass patterns and a restoration of tobosa grass; and minimize or eliminate juniper and woody shrub encroachment into grassland areas.
This grassland burn will target old decadent stands of tobosa grass and other high desert grassland species to restore and rejuvenate the grassland ecosystem at the onset of monsoon moisture in the area.
Additionally, the burn will reduce the potential of high frequency fires that ignite along the I-17 corridor that threaten private property and other infrastructure.
Smoke will be highly visible from I-17, Highway 169, the Verde Valley, Dewey/Humboldt and areas immediately surrounding the burn site.
Smoke may be visible in Sedona and the Verde Valley.
Smoke will settle into low-lying areas at night.
Expect single lane closure on I-17 north bound for approximately 3 hours between mile markers 273 and 277. No trail closures are in effect and use caution when in and around the burn areas and traveling on I-17.
Prescribed fire mimics the historic and natural process that has occurred in the ecosystems of the Southwest. There are a variety of vegetation types within the national forests and each type requires specific treatments to reduce hazardous fuels or to restore the health of specific plant species or entire ecosystems.
Grassland burns increase herbaceous cover and reduce woody shrub components to create diversity and productivity of plant cover and wildlife habitats. Maintaining the grassland component by removing undesirable weeds and encroaching woody species in the grassland will provide better protection opportunities for those areas containing species of interests and increase forage quality for pronghorn, other wildlife and livestock through a decrease in the woody shrub components.
Grass species need to be burned during summer temperatures and as near to the onset of Monsoon as possible to provide the greatest opportunity for restoration.
“We will be monitoring weather conditions closely in order to ignite this burn prior to the onset of the monsoons; and we will monitor the weather for unfavorable conditions that may necessitate the need to cancel the project,” USFS Public Affairs spokeswoman Debbie Maneely stated. “An extensive planning process is followed to ensure that appropriate fuel and weather conditions are present and enough resources are on hand to assist if needed.”
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).
Messages will be posted to social media when managed fires are ignited on the Prescott National Forest:
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF/)
Twitter (https://twitter.com/PrescottNF?lang=en)
Visitors can obtain additional information via the following Prescott NF Forest Website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/prescott/
Camp Verde Ranger District: (928) 567-4121.
