Flagstaff, AZ (October 26, 2011) – Pending favorable conditions and approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, fire managers on the Coconino National Forest are planning two prescribed fire projects for October 26.
Kachina Project – 10 acres of pile burning just west of I-17, south of Kachina Village. Piles are small and should be consumed before the end of the day. Smoke will disperse to the south and may be briefly noticeable on I-17. Little to no overnight smoke is expected.
Victorine Project – Approximately 500 acres located southeast of the community of Blue Ridge, off Forest Road 137B. Smoke will disperse to the south. Residual smoke could impact Hwy 87 and the Blue Ridge community overnight.
Prescribed fire activity is dependent on personnel availability, weather – including ventilation, and approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (www.azdeq.gov).
Fire managers continue to work hard balancing the critical need for reducing the risk of severe wildfires with the importance of minimizing smoke impacts to communities. The Coconino National Forest coordinates prescribed fire plans with the partners in the Ponderosa Fire Advisory Council (which includes local fire departments), as well as neighboring forests, to reduce the overall impact of smoke on communities.
The public can obtain prescribed fire information via the following:
- Prescribed Fire Hotline: 928-226-4607
- Coconino National Forest Website: www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino
- Click on the Prescribed Fire Link to the right of the page
- Sign-up to receive regular email notifications:
- 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
