Flagstaff, AZ (October 19, 2011) – Due to lack of sufficient winds, fire managers postponed the Fort Valley prescribed burn planned for today. Two prescribed fire projects are planned for Thursday, October 20.
Hart Prairie Project – up to 490 acres located east of Hwy 180, west of AZ Snowbowl on Forest Road 151. Smoke will disperse over Hart Prairie and north of the San Francisco Peaks. Southwest winds are predicted to continue through the night, which will help keep smoke from settling the communities. If winds become light, residual smoke will settle into Fort Valley and drift into Rio de Flag, Cheshire and Flagstaff overnight.
APS Project: 400 acres northeast of the community of Blue Ridge along Highway 87 across from Little Bly Pit. Smoke should disperse to the northeast toward Winslow. Residual smoke may impact Hwy 87 and the Mogollon Ranch subdivision.
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 the 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