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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 October 10, 2012
Public Affairs Contacts: Brienne Magee, Flagstaff Ranger District, 928-527-8290 Brady Smith, Coconino National Forest, 928-527-3490 Connie Birkland, Red Rock Ranger District, 928-203-7505
Victorine Project prescribed burning efforts to continue Thursday
Flagstaff, AZ – Crews completed ignitions on both the Mint and Victorine projects today. Smoke from the Mint project continues to disperse to the east/northeast this evening. Some residual smoke is expected to settle toward Mormon Lake Village overnight, however, winds from the approaching storm system will help to keep the majority smoke moving away from the community.
For tomorrow, crews on the Mogollon Rim District are planning another 500 acre burn on the Victorine Project south of Highway 87. Due to precipitation the approaching storm is forecast to bring, Coconino National Forest fire managers are not planning any burns in the Flagstaff area for tomorrow.
Victorine Project – 550 acres located approximately 5 miles southeast of Highway 87, 8 miles northeast of Blue Ridge Reservoir. Smoke will disperse to the north. Overnight residual smoke may be noticeable in the Blue Ridge communities. This is a maintenance burn, meaning this area has been previously treated with fire; fuel accumulation and thus smoke production, should be lighter.
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 canceling approved burns when conditions aren’t favorable, finding alternative uses for the debris in slash piles, timing daytime 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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