Fire managers on the Coconino National Forest are planning to conduct several pile burn projects next week, pending favorable conditions.

LAKE MARY ROAD: Large piles located along Lake Mary Road, across from the Heckethorn neighborhood. Due to the side of the piles, burning will be noticeable from the Flagstaff. Smoke is expected to disperse away from the community during the day, however, residual smoke will likely settle in the area overnight.

Crews are burning up to 200 acres today (Feb 12), and plan to complete another 250 acres over the course of the week if conditions allow.

OAK CREEK CANYON: Various pile locations between Slide Rock State Park and Munds Canyon. Crews are burning 50 acres today. Smoke is expected to disperse to the east during the day, and settle in Oak Creek Canyon overnight. Crews will stop ignitions early in the day to allow the majority of smoke time to disperse during the day and reduce overnight smoke. Fire managers plan to continue burning in this general area for the remainder of the week if conditions are favorable.

All prescribed fire activity is dependent on personnel availability, weather – including winds and ventilation, and approval from the ADEQ (www.azdeq.gov).

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 canceling approved burns when conditions aren’t favorable, finding alternative uses for the debris in slash piles, timing daytime 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 our partners in the Ponderosa Fire Advisory Council, as well as neighboring forests, to reduce the impact of smoke on the communities.

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

Prescribed Fire Hotline: 928-226-4607
Coconino National Forest Website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/coconino
Click on “Prescribed Fire” on the right of the page
Sign-up for regular email notifications of planned burns: http://www.fs.fed.us/news/subscription
Choose “Southwestern Region”

Local Ranger Stations: Flagstaff Ranger District, 928-526-0866; Red Rock Ranger District (Sedona) 928-203-2900; Mogollon Rim Ranger District (Blue Ridge) 928-477-2255