Home » General » Coconino National Forest Begins Prescribed Burn

Coconino National Forest Begins Prescribed Burn

Cononino Forest prescribed burn

Flagstaff AZ (October 2, 2012) – The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service is notifying the public of an October 2, 2012 prescribed burn in the Coconino National Forest:

In northern Arizona, we love our forests. Our forests are the setting for various recreational activities and provide the backdrop for our community. But, while it may not always be evident, our forests are sick. Many parts of our forest are susceptible to insect infestations, disease, and catastrophic wildfire. It is because of our love of our forest, and our desire to improve its health that we prescribe fire. Much like a doctor prescribes medication to a sick patient, Forest Service managers sometimes prescribe fire to improve the health of our local forests.

In the southwest, plants and animals have evolved with fire as a natural part of the ecosystem. For thousands of years, small lightning-caused fires have moved through southwestern forests burning along the ground, thinning out smaller pines, consuming accumulated needles, and leaving behind nutrient-rich ash that stimulated the growth of grasses and wildflowers. This continuous cycle of fire and regeneration continued unchecked until civilization began to encroach upon the forests. Fire was viewed as a threat to early settlements in the west, and all fires were aggressively suppressed.

In more recent times, forest managers have observed how forests have changed due to the exclusion of fire, and have gained an understanding of fire’s importance in forest health. Without natural fire, more seedlings have survived to maturity, resulting in a denser and less healthy forest. Also, more needles and debris have accumulated due to the exclusion of fire, resulting in an increased fire danger.

Prescribed fire addresses these problems by approximating natural fire and reducing the amount of hazardous fuels. Prescribed fire is needed today to replenish soil nutrients, stimulate new growth, and to maintain biological diversity; all of which contribute to a healthy forest. In addition to a healthier forest, another benefit resulting from prescribed fire and a healthier forest is a reduction in fire danger for our communities. Areas treated with prescribed fire are less likely to burn intensely during a wildfire and allow a wildfire to be brought under control more easily.

While prescribed fire has proven to be successful in improving forest health and reducing the danger of catastrophic wildfires, there is a side effect: smoke. Air quality considerations are an integral part of prescribed fire for forest managers, and each fire prescription is formulated in order to disperse smoke rapidly and reduce lingering haze. Before each prescribed fire is ignited, forest managers must get approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). Additionally, a current weather report is obtained in order to ensure that weather conditions are conducive to smoke management and a safe burn. It is the goal of forest managers to minimize smoke impacts to our communities while still accomplishing forest health and fuels reduction goals. Yet, even in favorable conditions the air will still become smoky. Much like people who live in deserts can expect extreme temperatures in the summer, people who live in and around the forest should expect some smoke in the cooler months when weather conditions allow for low intensity burning.

Today we understand the importance of fire in our forests. Prescribed fire is the result of that understanding and represents just one of the many tools used by forest managers to improve the health of our forests and to reduce the threat of wildfire to our communities. Our forests need fire, and by planning fire prescriptions we can maximize the chance that these fires will burn on our terms.

Prescribed Fire on the Coconino Forest

Prescribed fire activity is dependent on personnel availability, weather – including ventilation, and approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (www.azdeq.gov).

For technical locations of the USDA Forest Service approved-for-today projects, visit the ADEQ approval site. The Coconino’s approved burns will have a “Burn #” beginning with “COF”; to determine the location on our forest, use the coordinates on the Prescribed Fire Map.

Fire managers make every effort to minimize smoke impacts to the communities while continuing to address the critical need to reduce the risk of severe wildfires around those communities. Tactics to keep smoke impacts as minimal as possible include cancelling burns when conditions aren’t favorable, finding alternative uses for the debris in slash piles, timing ignitions to allow the majority of smoke time to disperse prior to settling overnight, and burning larger sections at a time when conditions are favorable to reduce the overall number of days smoke is in the area.

In addition, the Coconino National Forest coordinates prescribed fire plans with the partners of the Ponderosa Fire Advisory Council (which includes local fire departments), as well as neighboring forests, to reduce the impact of smoke on the communities.

Current Prescribed Fire:  Crews have begun ignition on the A-1 prescribed burn this morning. Expect smoke near Bellemont and Baderville; today’s winds will disperse it to the north/northeast. Overnight, smoke will settle similarly to last night – around Baderville and Bellemont.

Fire managers anticipate continuing burning efforts in this area through Thursday, October 4, 2012.

The public can also obtain prescribed fire information via the following:

  • Call the Prescribed Fire Hotline at 928-226-4607.
  • Sign-up to receive regular email notifications: http://www.fs.fed.us/news/subscription / Choose “Southwestern Region”
  • Local Ranger Stations: Peaks Ranger District (Flagstaff) 928-526-0866; Red Rock Ranger District (Sedona) 928-203-2900; Mogollon Rim Ranger District (Blue Ridge) 928-477-2255.

What are the benefits of prescribed burning per the Forest Service?

  • Reduces fuel build-up.
  • Dead wood, overcrowded, unhealthy trees, and thick layers of pine needles can all contribute to catastrophic wildfires including crown fires.
  • Prepares the land for new growth.
  • When excess vegetation or needle layers are burned off, nitrogen and other nutrients are released into the soil and become available for new plants to grow.
  • Helps certain plants/trees germinate.
  • Many native plant and forest communities have adapted to fire for their germination and growth. Seed contact with soil (such as that exposed by a fire) is necessary for some species to naturally regenerate.
  • Naturally thins overcrowded forests.
  • Historically, natural fire thinned the forests. Thinned forests can recover faster and are more resistant to insect and disease attacks. Currently, many of the mature forests are overcrowded, resulting in a lack of vigor and health.
  • Creates diversity needed by wildlife.

Fire provides diverse habitat for plants and animals. Grazing wildlife such as Elk and Deer benefit from new growth as shrubs produce edible leaves when re-sprouting after a fire.

Follow the SedonaEye.com for updates to prescribed burns and or visit the Coconino National Forest burn updates on its webpage at www.fs.usda.gov.

For the best Sedona Arizona News and Views? Subscribe to www.SedonaEye.com today.

1 Comment

  1. Dear Community Member,

    You have recently been contacted about completing a survey about forest restoration impacts on your community conducted by graduate students at Northern Arizona University. The ten minute survey is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/F6VLKWV.

    We will be closing the survey on March 8th. I really hope to be able to include your insights in the information passed back to your community and to land managers. With more information we can better represent the impacts foreseen on your community.

    When you complete the survey you will be entered to win a $25 pre-paid Visa Giftcard.

    In order to complete the survey you can access it athttps://www.surveymonkey.com/s/F6VLKWV . We can also send hard copies of the survey with postage if that is more convenient for you.

    Thank you ahead of time for your contribution. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Katie Sauerbrey at kas568@nau.edu or (360) 601-5681. Thanks in advance for your valuable contribution to this effort.

    Sincerely,
    Katie Sauerbrey
    Northern Arizona University
    Wyss Scholar for the American West
    MS Environmental Science and Policy Candidate, 2013

Leave a Reply

Copyright © 2008-2017 · Sedona Eye · All Rights Reserved · Posts · Comments · Facebook · Twitter ·