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U.S. Forest Service
News Release
Media Contact: Brady Smith
Prescribed burns planned for Coconino NF
Flagstaff, Ariz., Apr. 14, 2015, For Immediate Release —
Fire managers are planning three prescribed burns this week in areas near Lake Mary Road, Luke Mountain and Mormon Lake basin.
Mountainaire Project: Planned ignition will be Wednesday
(April 15) if conditions are suitable for burning. This burn includes approximately 550 acres along the south side of Lake Mary Road just one to two miles east of Pulliam Airport. Smoke is expected to disperse to the southeast and will be visible to those
in the Flagstaff area.
Rocky Project: Planned ignition will be Thursday (April 16)
or Friday (April 17), depending on weather conditions. The burn area includes 385 acres in an area near Luke Mountain that is located about 7 miles south of Munds Park on the east side of Interstate 17. 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: Planned ignition will be Thursday
(April 16) or Friday (April 17), depending on weather conditions. The burn area includes 1,000 acres in an area just west of the Village of Mormon Lake off Forest Road 219. Smoke is expected to disperse to the northeast, but 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-4-14-15-RxBurn.docx
Description: COC-NR-4-14-15-RxBurn.docx
Attachment:
RX Burn Map.pdf
Description: RX Burn Map.pdf
