SOUTHWESTERN-NEWS-RELEASE: Coconino National Forest Information

["Magee, Brienne U -FS" <bmagee@xxxxxxxxx>]

Flagstaff Ranger District fire managers have decided on the Woody Ridge project. Crews are evaluating on-the-ground conditions and conducting a test burn. If all is favorable, crews will move forward with ignition. Smoke will be noticeable from Flagstaff.

 

Also, the test fire on the Victorine prescribed burn was successful and crews on the Mogollon Rim Ranger District are moving forward with ignition.

 

See details in Friday’s news release below.

 

 

Brienne Magee

Public Affairs Specialist

Flagstaff Ranger District, Coconino NF

5075 N Hwy 89

Flagstaff AZ 86004

o: 928-527-8290

bmagee@xxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS RELEASE                    

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

U.S. Forest Service

Coconino National Forest

www.fs.usda.gov/coconino                                       

www.twitter.com/CoconinoNF

www.flickr.com/photos/coconinonationalforest

 

For Immediate Release

October 18, 2013

           

 

 

Prescribed burns planned across the forest next week

 

Flagstaff, AZ – Pending favorable conditions, fire managers on the Coconino National Forest are planning several prescribed burns across the forest starting Monday.  

 

For Monday, Oct 21

• Victorine Project – 200 acres located approximately 7 miles southeast of Highway 87, east of Blue Ridge Reservoir near the junction of Forest Service Roads 137 and 96. The majority of smoke will disperse away from the community, but some light smoke may be noticeable in the Blue Ridge subdivisions.
• EITHER Eastside Project (125 acres) OR Woody Ridge Project (426 acres, divided into two sections)
  • Woody Ridge - Southwest of Flagstaff, south of Woody Mountain Road and west of Hwy 89 A and Fort Tuthill County Park. Northeast winds in the forecast will push smoke to the southwest away from Flagstaff. Overnight, smoke is expected to drain toward Pumphouse Wash and Hwy 89A.
  • Eastside Project – South of Flagstaff off Lake Mary Road, near the Heckethorn neighborhood. Smoke is expected to rise 1500' and disperse to the southwest with predicted northeast winds. Smoke will be noticeable at Lake Mary RD, I-40 and East Flagstaff.

 

For the remainder of the week, fire managers will evaluate conditions and consider burning at the following projects:

• Continuing efforts on the Victorine Project
• Eastside Project at Elden Lookout Road north of Flagstaff
• Ft Valley Project north of Flagstaff off Hwy 180 as research blocks in the Fort Valley Experimental Forest
• Upper Beaver Creek Project, Foster Canyon Unit, immediately south of Stoneman Lake

 

 

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.

 

Prescribed fire information:

• Prescribed Fire Recorded Hotline: 928-226-4607
• Coconino National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/coconino/rxfire
• Subscribe for regular email notifications: http://www.fs.fed.us/news/subscription (choose “Southwestern Region”)
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/CoconinoNF
• Local Ranger Stations: Flagstaff Ranger District, 928-526-0866; Red Rock Ranger District 928-203-2900; Mogollon Rim Ranger District 928-477-2255

 

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