Sedona AZ (January 27, 2014) –Fire managers on the Verde Ranger District are planning to start ignitions on the Tex Canyon Project beginning Wednesday, January 29, 2014, and continuing over the next two weeks. Specific days to burn will be determined by current and expected weather patterns allowing fire managers to make every effort to minimize smoke impacts to nearby communities.

Tactics to keep smoke impacts as minimal as possible include canceling approved burns when conditions aren’t favorable, 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.

Tex Canyon Project – Approximately 3500 acres north and east of the Whitehorse Subdivision in the Dewey-Humboldt area (T14N, R2E, Sec 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, & 34) and is designed to reduce fuel loads, return fire to its natural role in the ecosystem, reduce the potential for a damaging wildfire to impact the Whitehorse Subdivision; and in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to improve wildlife habitat.

Forest prescribed burn

All prescribed fires activity is dependent on the availability of personnel and equipment, weather, fuels and conditions that minimize smoke impacts as best as possible and approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (www.azdeq.gov).

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

· Prescott NF Fire Information Hotline: (928) 777-5799

· Prescott NF Forest Website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/prescott/

· Local Ranger Stations: Bradshaw Ranger District, 928-443-8000; Chino Valley Ranger District 928-777-2200; Verde Ranger District 928-567-4121.

For the best in Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!