The Coconino National Forest has established this method of notifying you of planned and current fuels treatment activities on the forest. For confirmation or for more information, please visit our "Current Conditions" page of the Coconino National Forest web-site. You may click
this link http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/conditions/current-rx.shtml, or use the "shortcut" to our main page: www.coconinoforest.us
The Coconino County Health Department provides information about smoke concerns and offers suggestions for minimizing smoke impacts to your family and home at the following website http://www.coconino.az.gov/health.aspx?id=6564.
November 16, 2010 5:00pm
Prescribed burn update
Flagstaff, AZ –
TODAY: Fire specialists ignited on both the Mountainaire and Upper Beaver Creek prescribed fire projects. Before actually igniting this morning, fire managers assessed on the ground and conducted a test burn for each project.
Mountainaire Project -- Conditions seem to finally be ideal for fire crews to proceed with the Mountainaire prescribed fire project today, located southeast of Flagstaff and east of Mountainaire. Fire managers have been watching winds, weather, and fuel moistures closely over the past weeks, waiting for conditions that will allow for an efficient burn while minimizing smoke impact to the community. Crews planned to burn approximately 1000 acres today. Smoke was dispersing to the northeast during the day. Overnight, residual smoke will likely settle around I-17 and Mountainaire, as well as the Heckethorne area off Lake Mary Road.
Upper Beaver Creek Project -- Crews from both the Red Rock and Mogollon Rim Districts worked on the Upper Beaver Creek prescribed fire project again today. This is located between Lake Mary Road (FH3) and I-17 near Stoneman Lake. Because of colder/shorter days, fire managers began ignition later in the morning and burned smaller blocks at a time. Yesterday crews completed 150 acres of the originally planned 1000. Today crews planned for 700 acres. Residual smoke will stay in the local area tonight with higher winds in the forecast for this evening which will help residual smoke continue to disperse, further reducing the chance of smoke impact to Verde communities.
TOMORROW: Crews will ignite 15 acres at Fort Valley northwest of Flagstaff as part of continuing prescribed fire research. Little residual smoke is anticipated in the immediate area.
Fire managers work hard to balance 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.
All prescribed fire activity is dependent on personnel availability, weather – including ventilation conditions, and approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (www.azdeq.gov).
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
o Click on the Prescribed Fire Link to the right of the page
Sign-up to receive regular email notifications: http://www.fs.fed.us/news/subscription
o Choose “Southwestern Region”
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CoconinoNF_Fire
Local Ranger Stations: Peaks Ranger District (Flagstaff), 928-526-0866; Red Rock Ranger District (Sedona) 928-203-2900; Mogollon Rim Ranger District (Blue Ridge) 928-477-2255
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