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U.S. Dept. of Agriculture U.S. Forest Service Coconino National Forest www.twitter.com/CoconinoNF www.flickr.com/photos/coconinonationalforest For Immediate Release Friday, November 14, 2014
Media Contact:
Brienne Magee – office: 928-527-8290, cell: 928-310-6035,
bmagee@xxxxxxxxx Prescribed fires planned for the week of November 17 Flagstaff,
Ariz. – The amount of rain/snow the forest receives over the next couple
days will determine next week’s prescribed fire efforts. If significant precipitation occurs, fire managers may conduct various pile burns across the forest. Piles are made up of slash and debris left over from forest thinning projects, and the smoke from
pile burns is generally lighter than broadcast burns. However, if fuels are dry enough and conditions are favorable, fire managers plan to continue prescribed broadcast burning (applying low-intensity fire along
the forest floor) throughout the week. Locations include the Upper Beaver Creek, Oak Creek Canyon, Mormon Lake, Kachina/Griffith’s Spring, and Mountainaire areas.
For Monday November 17:
Either
Or
For Tuesday November 18:
Additional possible projects for Tuesday through Friday, depending on conditions:
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.
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