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NEWS RELEASE U.S. Dept. of Agriculture U.S. Forest Service Coconino National Forest www.twitter.com/CoconinoNF www.flickr.com/photos/coconinonationalforest
For Immediate Release April 23, 2012
Contact: Brienne Magee Tel: 928-527-8290
Prescribed burns planned in Eastside and Upper Beaver Creek projects
Flagstaff, AZ – Coconino National Forest fire managers are planning to conduct prescribed burns east of Flagstaff, and possibly on the Upper Beaver Creek Project this week, timing burning efforts before the precipitation in the forecast.
Eastside Project – Starting Tuesday, crews will burn up to 650 acres on Campbell Mesa between Country Club and I-40 east of Flagstaff, off Old Walnut Canyon Road. The Campbell Mesa Loop and other trails in the area will be under a soft closure during the ignition phases. With the predicted weather, smoke is expected to move north and east during the day. Smoke will likely be noticeable in the Country Club neighborhood overnight.
Upper Beaver Creek Project – Fire managers on the Mogollon Rim District may also begin work on the Upper Beaver Creek Project this week, pending favorable conditions; the majority of burning will likely occur the week of April 30. Crews plan to burn approximately 3000 acres five miles south of Happy Jack and west of Lake Mary Road. Smoke will be visible from Lake Mary Rd (Forest Highway 3) and the Verde Valley. Some smoke may settle in the Verde Valley overnight, but crews will try to burn with stronger winds to help minimize settling.
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:
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