Prescribed burns near Flagstaff next week to produce noticeable smoke plumes close to town
Flagstaff, Ariz., Oct. 6, 2016, For Immediate Release —
Fire managers are planning several prescribed burn projects next week, likely starting Tuesday (Oct. 11),
to reintroduce fire into the Ponderosa pine ecosystem and reduce forest fuel accumulation in strategic areas around northern Arizona communities.
Two of the projects—Eastside and Griffith Springs—will be close to Flagstaff and produce smoke plumes that will be very noticeable to those in and around Flagstaff. However, the smoke should rise and move toward the northeast, dissipating by the end of the
day. Ignitions usually begin about 9 a.m.
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.
EASTSIDE PROJECT
When:
Planned ignition will be Tuesday (Oct. 11) if conditions are suitable for burning and weather allows.
Where: Near Pine Canyon subdivision and the Heckethorn community; approximately two miles south of Little America.
Size: Approximately 375 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.
GRIFFITH SPRINGS PROJECT
When:
Planned ignition will be Tuesday (Oct. 11) if conditions are suitable for burning and weather allows.
Where: Approximately one mile northwest of Kachina Village near Forest Highlands.
Size: Approximately 300 acres.
Impacts: Good ventilation is expected to push smoke to the north/northeast during the day and will be visible to the Forest highland Golf Club, Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, Flagstaff residents, and motorists on AZ 89A, I-17 and I-40.
UPPER BEAVER CREEK PROJECT (Stoneman Lake area)
When:
Planned ignition will be Tuesday (Oct. 11) as weather and conditions allow.
Where: Immediately west and south of Stoneman Lake.
Size: Approximately 870 acres.
Impacts:
Smoke may impact Stoneman Lake and Mormon Lake 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.
EAST CLEAR CREEK PROJECT
When:
Planned ignition will be Tuesday (Oct. 11) if conditions are suitable for burning and weather allows.
Where: In the Mogollon Rim Ranger District south of C.C. Cragin Reservoir (formerly Blue Ridge Reservoir).
Size: Approximately 3,000 acres.
Impacts: Good ventilation is expected to push smoke to the north/northeast during the day and will be visible to Happy Jack visitors, Clint Wells residents, others along the rim country along with motorists on Forest Service Road 300, Arizona Route 87
and Lake Mary Road (Forest Highway 3).
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.
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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Brady Smith, MBA
Public Affairs Officer
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Forest Service
Coconino National Forest,
Supervisor's Office
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p: 928-527-3490
bradysmith@xxxxxxxxx
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1824 S. Thompson Street
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
www.coconinonationalforest.us
  
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Caring for the land
and serving people
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