|
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 27, 2014
Media Contact:
Brienne Magee – office: 928-527-8290, cell: 928-310-6035,
bmagee@xxxxxxxxx Prescribed burning plans changing this week to adjust to conditions Flagstaff,
Ariz. – Crews have begun ignitions on the 320-acre prescribed burn on
the BLUE RIDGE URBAN INTERFACE PROJECT, and intend to continue burning in this project area all week if conditions are favorable. Smoke may be noticeable on Hwy 87 and in the Blue Ridge communities overnight and in the early morning hours.
Red Rock Ranger District fire managers have cancelled the OAK CREEK CANYON burn planned for today and are evaluating opportunities to try again next week.
To minimize smoke impacts to Flagstaff, fire managers will not burn on the EASTSIDE PROJECT near Pine Canyon today due to unfavorable ventilation conditions.
They will instead focus efforts on the ROCKY PARK PROJECT located approximately 30 miles south of Flagstaff on the east side of I-17 near the Rocky Park exit. Crews are planning to burn up to 1,600 acres beginning with approximately 150 acres tomorrow (Tuesday.
Oct 28). Smoke will disperse to the northwest during the day. Residual smoke will follow canyons and drainages overnight, settling toward I-17 and the Verde Valley. Fire managers may still conduct prescribed burns on the small research blocks in the FORT VALLEY PROJECT north of Flagstaff later this week if conditions are
suitable. Prescribed fires are essential tools for restoring the forests in our fire-adapted ecosystem, and smoke is an unavoidable byproduct of these vital efforts.
Fire managers strive to minimize smoke impacts to the community as much as possible. They burn when winds and other atmospheric conditions will push the majority of smoke
away from homes; they’ll burn larger sections at a time to ultimately limit the number of days smoke is in the air; and they work closely with ADEQ, partners in the Ponderosa Fire Advisory Council, as well as neighboring forests to monitor air quality.
Crews also seek opportunities to use slash from thinning projects around the community instead of burning it –it is often used as filler at the landfill and offered as firewood
to community members. However, no matter how many mechanical means we employ to restore our forests, fire is a natural and necessary part of this ecosystem, and a restoration tool that cannot be replaced by any mechanical means. Forests need the frequent,
low-intensity fire to remove accumulated smaller fuels and recycle nutrients into the soils to promote healthy vegetation and wildlife habitat. A healthier forest is a safer forest for firefighters and residents when wildfires inevitably occur. Notifications of upcoming prescribed burns are provided regularly throughout the season. The public can find this information online or through the recorded hotline. Contact
your local Coconino National Forest office for additional information.
### USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (866) 632-9992 (toll-free customer service), (800) 877-8339 (local or federal relay) or (866) 377-8642 (relay voice users).
This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately. |
