Flagstaff, AZ (October 21, 2011) – Coconino National Forest fire managers are planning one small prescribed fire Monday, October 24, and are tentatively planning other projects for the remainder of the week. Prescribed fire activity is difficult to plan far in advance, as burn days, project areas and acres depend on winds, ventilation, and other conditions. Fire managers typically establish more solid plans one to two days before burning, when forecasts are clearer.
For Monday, October 24:
Limestone Flats Project: 15 acres in the Long Valley Experimental Forest located just west of Clint’s Well, the junction of Highway 87 and Forest Highway 3 (Lake Mary Rd). This burn is part of ongoing research; the area is introduced to fire every one to two years. Because of the small size and lower volumes of fuel, smoke impacts from this burn will be minimal. During ignition, smoke will be visible from Hwy 87 and FH3 and will disperse to the north. Little to no residual smoke is expected.
Fire managers will consider the following projects for the remainder of the week.
Hart Prairie Project – located north of Flagstaff, east of Hwy 180, west of AZ Snowbowl on Forest Road 151. Smoke will disperse to the north and east around the San Francisco Peaks. If overnight winds are light, residual smoke may settle around Hwy 180, Ft Valley and Flagstaff.
Mountainaire Project – located south of Flagstaff between I-17 and Lake Mary Road near the community of Mountainaire. Smoke typically disperses to the north and east during the day. Smoke will be noticeable south of Flagstaff.
Victorine Project – located southeast of the community of Blue Ridge, north of Knoll Lake. Smoke would disperse to the north and east. Residual smoke could impact subdivisions near East Clear Creek 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 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
