Smoke from prescribed burn
to impact Sedona, Verde Valley during early morning hours
Flagstaff, Ariz., Oct.
26, 2017, For Immediate Release —
Smoke from a prescribed burn project north of Munds Park today, which produced a large plume visible from Sedona, will likely impact surrounding
communities during morning hours tomorrow until wind patterns shift southwesterly.
The Coyote Project burned approximately 650 acres today and southwesterly
winds dispersed the smoke toward the north and east throughout the day.
However, winds are forecast to change direction and come from the north
this evening. This will cause residual smoke impacts to communities south and west of the project, such as Munds Park, Sedona, the Village of Oak Creek,
and Verde Valley. Impacts will be heaviest in the early morning hours before daytime heating occurs, which will then cause the smoke to rise and disperse. Impacts from residual smoke should be expected over the course of the next few days, even though the
initial burn has been completed.
Smoke will likely impact areas along Interstate 17 near Munds Park and the
near the burn itself. Arizona Department of Transportation will be on scene and monitoring smoke impacts to ensure public safety on the roadway.
The Coyote Project is one of several recent prescribed burns located in a Mexican Spotted Owl Protected
Activity Center (PAC). The Forest Service has partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to produce a schedule to study the owls in these PACs, while simultaneously
studying owls in different PACs not being treated with prescribed fire. Introducing fire into these areas is also important to help restore the ecological integrity of the area and reduce the risk of severe wildfire in the future.
Given the complexity of introducing fire in PAC areas while at the same time trying to preserve vital habitat, burning
has been be slower and more methodical.
Notifications of upcoming prescribed
burns are provided
regularly by news releases throughout the season and also by the following online resources:
·
Sign up to receive news releases from Coconino NF:
www.fs.fed.us/news/subscription.shtml
·
Coconino NF’s Inciweb page:
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/unit/303/
(under Fall 2017 prescribed burns)
·
Coconino NF’s Twitter account:
www.twitter.com/CoconinoNF
·
Coconino NF public website:
www.coconinonationalforest.us,
(Under News and Events)
·
Coconino NF’s Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/coconinonf
|
|
|
Brady Smith, MBA
Public Affairs Officer
|
|
Forest Service
Coconino National Forest,
Supervisor's Office
|
|
p: 928-527-3490
bradysmith@xxxxxxxxx
|
|
1824 S. Thompson Street
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
www.coconinonationalforest.us
  
|
|
Caring for the land
and serving people
|
|
|
|
This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil
or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
To manage your subscription visit http://www.fs.fed.us/news/subscription.shtml
|
Attachment:
News Release.pdf
Description: News Release.pdf
