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U.S. Forest Service
News Release
Media Contact: Brady Smith
Possible prescribed burns planned
Flagstaff, Ariz., Apr. 8, 2015, For Immediate Release —
Fire managers are planning several prescribed burns over the next week in areas south of Flagstaff, which will be visible from Munds Park and the community of
Mormon Lake.
Rocky Project: Approximately 1,050 acres in an area near
Luke Mountain, which is about 7 miles south of Munds Park on the east side of Interstate 17. Planned ignition will be Friday (April 10) if conditions are suitable for burning. Smoke is expected to disperse to the northeast away from I-17, but smoke may drift
back towards the interstate during evening hours.
Mormon Lake Basin Project: Approximately 800 acres in an
area just west of the village of Mormon Lake. Planned ignition will be Monday (April 13) if conditions are suitable. Smoke will likely settle in to the Mormon Lake area and may impact the community around Mormon Lake.
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 the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, 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 the Forest Service employs to restore 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 and through the Prescribed Fire
recorded hotline:
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Inciweb:
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/state/3/
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Prescribed Fire Recorded Hotline: 928-226-4607
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Twitter:
www.twitter.com/CoconinoNF
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Coconino website:
www.coconinonationalforest.us, (Under News and Events)
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Attachment:
COC-NR-4-8-15-RxBurn.docx
Description: COC-NR-4-8-15-RxBurn.docx
Attachment:
Rocky-Mormon Lake Basin Projects map.pdf
Description: Rocky-Mormon Lake Basin Projects map.pdf
