Prescribed burns planned next week on Coconino NF
Flagstaff, Ariz., May 13, 2016, For Immediate Release —
Fire managers are planning several prescribed burns next week, possibly starting Sunday (May 15),
to reintroduce fire into the Ponderosa pine ecosystem and reduce forest fuel accumulation in strategic areas around northern Arizona communities.
The public and media can get quick notification of when a prescribed burn or any other activity is happening on the Coconino National Forest by following us on Twitter
at www.twitter.com/CoconinoNF.
When ignition of a prescribed burn begins, we update our Twitter account so the public can know why
smoke is in the air and where it is coming from.
The following projects are planned on different days that may overlap throughout next week, but are also dependent
upon weather and wind conditions, so all or some of them could be cancelled if conditions are not suitable.
UPPER BEAVER CREEK PROJECT (Stoneman Lake area)
When:
Planned ignition will be sometime between Sunday through Friday (May 15 through 20) as weather and conditions allow.
Where: Immediately west and south of Stoneman Lake
Size: Approximately 870 acres.
Impacts:
Smoke may impact Stoneman Lake, Mormon Lake, and Munds Park communities to the north, and the Discovery Channel Telescope to the east. Cooling
temperatures in the evenings may cause smoke to settle and drain down nearby canyons, potentially impacting the Village of Oak Creek.
MUNDS PROJECT
When:
Planned ignition will be Monday (May 16) depending on weather and wind conditions in the area.
Where: Just southeast of Munds Park near Odell Lake; approximately 17 miles south of Flagstaff.
Size: Approximately 360 acres.
Impacts: Smoke is expected to disperse toward east/northeast and will be visible to motorists along Interstate 17, as well as residents of Munds Park and Flagstaff. Smoke may impact the following communities: Munds Park, the Village of Mormon Lake and
motorists along Lake Mary Road.
EASTSIDE PROJECT
When:
Planned ignition will be Wednesday to Thursday (May 17 to 18).
Where: Near Pine Canyon subdivision and the Heckethorn community; approximately two miles south of Little America.
Size: Approximately 390 acres.
Impacts: Winds are expected to flow toward the east and northeast most of next week, so smoke will be visible to motorists along Interstate 40, as well as residents of Flagstaff. With the smoke traveling toward the east/northeast, it may impact the following
subdivisions in and around Flagstaff: Harold Ranch, Continental, Pine Canyon, Heckethorn and Walnut Canyon.
PETE PROJECT:
When:
Planned ignition will be Thursday to Friday (May 19 to 20) if conditions are suitable for burning and weather allows.
Where: Located about two miles north of San Francisco Peaks and four miles west of U.S. Route 89.
Size: Approximately 4,000 acres.
Impacts: Good ventilation is expected to push smoke to the north/northeast during the day and will be visible to residents in the immediate area and motorists along U.S Routes 89 and 180.
Notifications of upcoming prescribed burns
are also provided
regularly by news releases throughout the season and by the following online resources:
·
Sign up to receive news releases:
www.fs.fed.us/news/subscription.shtml
·
Inciweb:
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/unit/303/
·
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/CoconinoNF
·
Coconino website:
www.coconinonationalforest.us,
(Under News and Events)
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