Flagstaff AZ (May 1, 2012) – Fire managers on the Mogollon Rim District of the Coconino National Forest are planning to conduct prescribed burns on the Upper Beaver Creek Project tomorrow through Friday. Forecast winds will push the majority of smoke to the northeast, however, residual smoke will likely drain toward the Verde Valley overnight.
The UBC Project is located five miles south of Happy Jack, west of Lake Mary Road. As the crow flies, this area is approximately 20 miles northeast of Camp Verde and 30 miles southeast of Flagstaff. Crews plan to burn approximately 700 acres per day.
All prescribed fire activity is dependent on personnel availability, weather – including winds and ventilation – and approval from the ADEQ (www.azdeq.gov).
Fire managers make every effort to minimize smoke impacts to the communities while continuing to address the critical need to reduce the risk of severe wildfires around those communities. Tactics to keep smoke impacts as minimal as possible include cancelling burns when conditions aren’t favorable, finding alternative uses for the debris in slash piles, timing ignitions to allow the majority of smoke time 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.
In addition, the Coconino National Forest coordinates prescribed fire plans with the partners of the Ponderosa Fire Advisory Council (which includes state and local fire departments), as well as neighboring forests, to reduce the impact of smoke on the communities.
The public can obtain additional prescribed fire information via the following:
- Prescribed Fire Hotline: 928-226-4607
- Coconino National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/coconino
- Click on “Prescribed Fire” on the right of the page
- Sign-up for regular email notifications of planned burns: http://www.fs.fed.us/news/subscription
- 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
