Flagstaff, AZ – Pending favorable conditions and approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, fire managers are planning prescribed burns for tomorrow on the Fort Valley and Eastside projects near Flagstaff, and the Victorine Project near Blue Ridge.
Ft. Valley Project – Up to 10 acres located north and east of Highway 180, near Snowbowl Rd. This burn is conducted for research purposes within the Fort Valley Experimental Forest. Winds will disperse the majority of smoke to the north east, over and through the San Francisco Peaks. Residual smoke will be light but likely noticeable from Hwy 180.
Eastside Project: 250 acres located on Campbell Mesa, between Old Walnut Canyon Road and I-40. Smoke will rise and disperse to the northeast. It may be noticeable from I-40 and the Doney Park area overnight.
Victorine Project: 500 acres of broadcast burning southeast of the community of Blue Ridge, approximately 10 miles north of Knoll Lake. Smoke will disperse to the north and may be noticeable on Hwy 87 and in the Blue Ridge community.
Prescribed fire activity is dependent on personnel availability, weather – including winds and ventilation, and approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (www.azdeq.gov).
Fire managers work hard to minimize smoke impacts to the communities while continuing to address the critical need to reduce the risk of severe wildfires around those communities. Crews make every effort to keep smoke impacts as minimal as possible including cancelling burns when conditions aren’t favorable, finding alternative uses for the debris in slash piles, and timing ignitions to allow the majority of smoke time to disperse prior to settling overnight.
In addition, the Coconino National Forest coordinates prescribed fire plans with the partners of the Ponderosa Fire Advisory Council (which includes local fire departments), as well as neighboring forests, to reduce the overall impact of smoke on the communities.
The public can obtain additional prescribed fire information by via the following:
- Prescribed Fire Hotline: 928-226-4607
- Coconino National Forest Website: www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino
- Click on the Prescribed Fire icon to the right of the page
- Sign-up for regular email notifications of planned burns:
- Choose “Southwestern Region”
- Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CoconinoNF
- Local Ranger Stations: Flagstaff Ranger District, 928-526-0866; Red Rock Ranger District (Sedona) 928-203-2900; Mogollon Rim Ranger District (Blue Ridge) 928-477-2255