Arizona Emergency Information Network
Potential for Above Average Fire Activity in Certain Areas of State Due to Increased Fuel Loading
The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) along with the Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service, and local cooperating fire agencies brief with Governor Katie Hobbs about the upcoming wildland fire season and outlook for the summer months.
DFFM Fire Management Officer John Truett presented the outlook to the Governor and her staff followed by a presentation to the media during a press conference on Monday. This year, and due to heavy fuel loading, fire behavior analysts report the potential for higher-than-normal activity in particular parts of Arizona. Areas south of the Mogollon Rim, within the Tonto National Forest and across the Sonoran Desert landscapes, down into the Catalinas, and into Cochise County may see increased fire activity due to the amount of grass and brush in those areas. The potential exists for quick ignitions and rapid moving wildfire within the areas of heavy fine fuel where winds and terrain can influence fire behavior making it challenging for firefighters to contain. “Those parts of the state have more than double the amount of fuel loading as in years past due to winter rains over the last few years. As we move into spring, and as drier and warmer conditions follow, that fuel dries out very quickly. Areas within the Sonoran Desert and into southern Arizona could see an uptick in fire activity with fires spreading very rapidly,” said DFFM Fire Management Officer John Truett.
As for the high country, fire behavior analysts report a delayed start to fire season due to the existing snowpack. However, unlike last year, that snowpack may melt sooner as warm temperatures enter the state. Forecasters say by May Arizona could see the start of our typical summer pattern of hot and dry conditions. Those conditions can signal the start of Arizona’s fire season.
In 2023, firefighters responded to 1,837 fires on State, Federal, and Tribal lands. Those fires burned approximately 188,000 acres with 71% reported as human-caused. Last year, Arizona’s largest fire, the Pilot Fire started on July 1, east of Wikieup, within the Mohon Mountains. It reached 34,810 acres before firefighters could call it 100% contained on August 12, more than one month after it started.
Next Monday, March 25, Southwest Wildfire Awareness Week kicks off in Arizona and New Mexico with this year’s theme: A Time for Action. The week helps amplify wildfire prevention and outreach messaging prior to the states’ critical fire timeframes. To promote the week, DFFM and partners will focus on increased social media messaging, public service announcements, and public outreach events. “A Time for Action” signifies getting homeowners to start creating defensible space around homes and around properties.
DFFM and its federal and tribal partners work annually conducing fuels reduction and prescribed burn projects to reduce the wildfire risk around communities. Home repair, seasonal cleanup, taking care of plants, and removing trash and debris from around the home are just a few ways to prepare your home for wildfire. This year, DFFM also unveils a new marketing campaign at gas stations aimed at reducing roadside fires and other prevention information.
For additional fire prevention or community protection tips, visit wildlandfire.az.gov or Firewise USA. Download DFFM’s free mobile phone application from the iTunes or Google Play stores for important resources, such as wildfire smoke forecasts, wildfire and fire prevention information, forestry content and much more. For more information, contact Tiffany Davila at 602-540-1036 or by email at [email protected]
Springerville Ranger District plans Whiting prescribed fire
The Springerville Ranger District on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests plan to begin ignitions on the Whiting prescribed fire during the next available window of favorable weather conditions, potentially on March 18, 2024 through March 31, 2024. The prescribed fire unit is approximately 10 miles southeast of Vernon, near the Whiting homestead, and west of Forest Road 117.
The Whiting prescribed fire project will aide in cleaning up dry climate grasses, ponderosa pine and the mixed conifer understory. Fire managers will work to mitigate impacts to values at risk within the unit that include nearby communities, private property, heritage sites, rangelands, and wildlife. Recent
precipitation, cooler temperatures, and relative humidity recoveries are in alignment to produce low intensity fire behavior.
Smoke may impact the communities of Vernon and Springerville-Eagar, nearby private properties, and Highway 60. Drivers are cautioned that visibility may be reduced, especially in the overnight hours when smoke tends to form an inversion layer as it settles near the ground.
Information on air quality is available at https://www.airnow.gov/.
Visit the A-S National Forests website and follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter).
West Escudilla Pile Burn planned on Springerville Ranger District
The Springerville Ranger District will continue planning prescribed fire pile burn efforts across 500 acres within the West Escudilla pinyon-juniper
treatment units. Encroaching junipers were thinned to decrease tree density and canopy cover, and to prevent regrowth of new juniper to restore the fuel type to grassland, its original fire regime. A ‘fire regime’ is the term given to the general pattern in which fires naturally occur in a particular ecosystem over an extended period of time.
Winter is an optimal time to burn piled slash and woody debris because snow on the ground keeps the fire from spreading to adjacent vegetation. Recent weather has provided ideal conditions and fire managers will look for opportunities to initiate burning between March 18th through March 31st,
2024.
The project area is located 10-15 miles southwest of Springerville-Eagar. Smoke from these prescribed fire pile burns is expected to be minimal but may impact Highways 60 and 180/191 and the communities of Springerville-Eagar. Drivers are cautioned that visibility may be reduced, especially in the overnight hours when smoke settles near the ground.
Each prescribed fire is designed to accomplish specific objectives and is managed with firefighter and public safety as the highest priority. Fire managers use prescribed fire to improve forest health, remove hazardous fuels, increase firefighter safety, enhance wildlife habitat, and protect communities and watersheds. Landscape treatments on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests align with the Forest Service's 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to increase the use of fire on the landscape and other treatments to improve forest health.
Air quality information is available at https://www.airnow.gov/. Visit the A-S National Forests website and follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter).
A map of the West Escudilla PJ Phase pile burn March 15 2024.jpgBlack Mesa Admin Piles Burn on Black Mesa Ranger District
The Black Mesa Ranger District is planning prescribed fire pile burns across 10 acres at Camp Shadow Pines, which is approximately 3.5 miles southwest of Heber. Pile burning is to reduce hazardous fuel accumulation returning the landscape to a more fire-resistant condition in line with the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy. Encroaching pine and juniper were thinned to decrease tree density and canopy cover, and to prevent regrowth of new pine and juniper to restore the fuel type to grassland, its original fire regime. A ‘fire regime’ is the term given to the general pattern in which fires naturally occur
in a particular ecosystem over an extended period of time.
Winter is an optimal time to burn piled slash and woody debris because snow on the ground keeps the fire from spreading to adjacent vegetation. Recent weather has provided ideal conditions and fire managers will look for opportunities to initiate burning between March 14, 2024 through the end of the month.
The project area is located 3.5 miles southwest of Heber, Arizona. Smoke from these prescribed fire pile burns is expected to be minimal but may impact Highway 260 and the communities of Heber-Overgaard. Drivers are cautioned that visibility may be reduced, especially in the overnight hours when smoke settles near the ground.
Each prescribed fire is designed to accomplish specific objectives and is managed with firefighter and public safety as the highest priority. Fire managers use prescribed fire to improve forest health, remove hazardous fuels, increase firefighter safety, enhance wildlife habitat, and protect communities and watersheds. Landscape treatments on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests align with the Forest Services 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to increase the use of fire on the landscape and other treatments to improve forest health.
Air quality information is available at https://www.airnow.gov/. Visit the A-S National Forests website and follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter).
Mesa Ranger District plans pile burn to reduce wildfire risk to the Goldfield Estates community
Tonto National Forest fire officials are planning a prescribed pile burn on the Mesa Ranger District around Goldfield Estates beginning March 19-20, 2024.
The purpose of this project is to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire to the community of Goldfield Estates by removing natural hazardous fuels that have built up adjacent to the property boundary and national forest system land. This fuel reduction operation will alleviate the area of dead vegetation while maintaining healthy native trees and shrubs.
“We need to provide a barrier free of hazardous fuels for our firefighters to safely engage in suppression operations to protect the community in the event of a wildfire,” said Mesa Fire Management Officer Chris Loxterman.
The pile burns will be conducted near State Route 87, between mile markers 194 and 197, both north and south bound. Motorist should expect to see smoke and use caution when travel through the area. Pile burning mitigates potential smoke impacts to areas by reducing the amount and duration of smoke in the air.
Prescribed fire operations are part of the USDA Forest Service’s overarching wildfire crisis strategy to reduce wildfire risk to people, communities, critical infrastructure and natural resources while sustaining and restoring healthy, resilient fire-adapted forests. Visit the Confronting the Wildfire Crisis webpage for information about the USDA Forest Service’s 10-year strategy to address the wildfire crisis and learn about the additional $500 million allocated by the Biden-Harris Administration to reduce the risk of wildfires to communities, critical infrastructure and natural resources from the nation’s ongoing wildfire crisis.
For additional information, contact the Mesa Ranger Station located at 5140 E. Ingram Street, Mesa, Arizona, or contact the station at (480) 610-3300 Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. and noon and from 12:30 - 4:30 p.m.
For the latest news and information about the Tonto National Forest, follow along on Facebook @TontoNationalForest or X (formally Twitter) @TontoForest.
Goldfield Estates Pile Burn.jpg
Measles cases reported in Coconino County
One confirmed and one probable case of measles has been reported in Coconino County. Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) is actively conducting disease surveillance and has identified five public locations where people may have been exposed to measles as a result of these cases.
Individuals who were at the following locations at the listed dates and times may have been exposed and should monitor for measles symptoms and contact their healthcare provider if they develop symptoms:
Planet Fitness, 4650 US Hwy 89, Flagstaff, AZ:
- Sunday, February 11 from 11 p.m. to Monday, February 12 at 9 a.m.
NextCare Urgent Care, 399 S Malpais Ln STE 100, Flagstaff, AZ
- unday, February 18
Joann Fabric and Craft, 1514 S Riordan Ranch Rd, Flagstaff AZ
- Thursday, February 29 from 12 – 4 p.m.
Flagstaff Medical Center, Emergency Department, 1200 N Beaver St, Flagstaff, AZ
- Sunday, March 3
- Tuesday, March 5
SimonMed Imaging, Flagstaff, 1000 N Humphreys St #100, Flagstaff, AZ
- Monday, March 4
The symptoms of measles generally appear about 7-21 days after a person is exposed, and include:
- High fever (> 101°F)
- Cough
- Feeling run down, achy (malaise)
- Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
- Runny nose
- Blotchy rash
Individuals with a fever and rash are advised to see a healthcare provider immediately. Healthcare providers who treat a suspected measles case should notify CCHHS or Arizona Department of Health Services within 24 hours.
“Unvaccinated individuals are at highest risk of developing the disease if exposed. The best protection against measles is to receive the measles vaccine,” CCHHS Director Kim Musselman said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the MMR vaccine to protect against measles, mumps, and rubella. Children should get two doses of MMR vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 to 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age. Teens and adults should also be up to date on their MMR vaccination. About 30% of measles cases develop serious complications, including pneumonia, ear infections encephalitis, and respiratory and neurologic complications. Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that causes fever and rash. It is spread through the air by an infected person breathing, coughing, or sneezing.
About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the U.S. who get measles are hospitalized. Measles may cause pregnant women who have not had the MMR vaccine to give birth prematurely or have a low-birth-weight baby.
In the event you experience fever, cough, runny nose, rash, or any other symptoms of measles:
- Please self-isolate, stay away from others and contact your healthcare provider by phone and let them know you are concerned you may have measles. They will let you know when to visit their office so as not to expose others in the waiting area.
- If you do not have a healthcare provider and need to seek care, please contact the urgent care or hospital before visiting and let them know that you suspect measles.
Contact your healthcare provider or call the CCHHS Health and Wellness Clinic at (928) 679-7222 to review your situation and determine your eligibility to receive an MMR vaccination.
CCHHS will provide more information as the investigation continues.
Visit cdc.gov/measles/index.html for more information.
Pile Burning Planned March 7 – 31 in the Prescott Basin
Fire Managers on the Bradshaw Ranger District plan to conduct prescribed fire operations in the Prescott Basin (Senator Highway, Copper Basin, Walker Road, and Deering Park), burning debris piles from hazardous fuels reduction and thinning projects. Ignitions are planned to start on Thursday, March 7, and continue through Sunday, March 31, if conditions remain favorable.
Expect smoke impacts to be light and visible from multiple locations including Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, and surrounding areas. As nighttime temperatures cool, smoke may linger in drainages and valleys. In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to obey all traffic signs and use caution when traveling in the vicinity of prescribed burns as firefighters and fire-related traffic will be in the area.
Prescott National Forest’s land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health and includes reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape. Reducing hazardous fuels will help reduce the threat of high-severity, high-intensity wildfire to the public, adjacent private property, and communities.
The project also furthers the goals of the Forest Service’s national Wildfire Crisis Strategy to restore forests so they are less vulnerable to extreme wildfires that can risk lives and property; and impact watersheds and wildlife habitat.
All prescribed fire activity is dependent on the availability of personnel and equipment; weather; fuels; conditions that minimize smoke impacts as much as possible; and approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (www.azdeq.gov).
Messages will be posted on social media when prescribed fires are ignited on the Prescott National Forest:
- Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF/
- Twitter https://twitter.com/PrescottNF
For fire information please call (928) 925-1111; or stay up to date on Prescott National Forest news by checking the Prescott NF website and following us on Facebook and Twitter.
West Escudilla Pile Burn planned on Springerville Ranger District
The Springerville Ranger District is planning prescribed fire pile burns across 500 acres within the West Escudilla pinyon-juniper treatment units. Encroaching junipers were thinned to decrease tree density and canopy cover, and to prevent regrowth of new juniper to restore the fuel type to grassland, its original fire regime. A ‘fire regime’ is the term given to the general pattern in which fires naturally occur in a particular ecosystem over an extended period of time.
Winter is an optimal time to burn piled slash and woody debris because snow on the ground keeps the fire from spreading to adjacent vegetation. Recent weather has provided ideal conditions and fire managers will look for opportunities to initiate burning between March 4 and March 31, 2024.
The project area is located 10-15 miles southwest of Springerville-Eagar. Smoke from these prescribed fire pile burns is expected to be minimal but may impact Highways 60 and 180/191 and the communities of Springerville-Eagar. Drivers are cautioned that visibility may be reduced, especially in the overnight hours when smoke settles near the ground.
Each prescribed fire is designed to accomplish specific objectives and is managed with firefighter and public safety as the highest priority. Fire managers use prescribed fire to improve forest health, remove hazardous fuels, increase firefighter safety, enhance wildlife habitat, and protect communities and watersheds. Landscape treatments on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests align with the Forest Service's 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to increase the use of fire on the landscape and other treatments to improve forest health.
Air quality information is available at https://www.airnow.gov/. Visit the A-S National Forests website and follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter).
A map of the West Escudilla pile burn March 1 2024.jpgPre-Wildfire studies reveal significant threat in watershed above Flagstaff
Two recent pre-wildfire studies from the Coconino County Flood Control District confirm that there is a significant wildfire and post-wildfire flood threat in the Upper Rio De Flag Watershed above Flagstaff, with potential to cause substantial economic impacts to the region.
Spanning 21,500 acres on the western side of the San Francisco Peaks, the Upper Rio De Flag Watershed is a heavily forested area comprised of steep slopes and drainages that feed into the Rio De Flag—Flagstaff’s primary waterway. In 2022, the Pipeline Fire burned a small portion of this watershed above Schultz Creek and caused significant post-wildfire flooding across the state highway and residential areas downstream, but much of the Upper Rio De Flag Watershed remains vulnerable to wildfire.
“Future wildfires must be expected,” said Lucinda Andreani, Coconino County Flood Control District Administrator. “We commissioned these two pre-wildfire studies to quantify our level of risk, inform our potential response strategies, and importantly, provide us insight on how to proactively reduce our risk of catastrophic wildfire through forest restoration.”
The first study—a burn severity and post-wildfire flood analysis from JE Fuller Hydrology and Geomorphology—generated flood models for several different burn scenarios of possible wildfire in the Upper Rio De Flag Watershed. This study detailed the full potential for severe and repetitive post-wildfire flooding through the Rio De Flag, which runs from Fort Valley through Downtown Flagstaff and potentially beyond. In some areas, this study showed post-wildfire flows up to 31 times greater than current conditions and floodwaters up to five feet of depth in residential and commercial areas. Nearly 2,000 homes, over 400 businesses, two state highways, and numerous public facilities were shown to be at risk of post-wildfire flooding in the burn scenarios modeled by this study.
The second study—an economic impact study from Northern Arizona University’s Economic Policy Institute—used the data from the JE Fuller study to calculate the potential economic impact of wildfire and post-wildfire flooding in the Upper Rio De Flag Watershed. This calculation included everything from wildfire response and remediation to structure damage, lost property value, business interruption, habitat loss, long term recovery costs and more. According to this study, wildfire and post-wildfire flooding in the Upper Rio De Flag Watershed could result in $535 million to $2.8 billion of economic impact. This calculation is conservative and based on one single flood event.
“Since its inception in 2017, the Coconino County Forest Restoration Initiative has been committed to applying the best available science in the pursuit of forest restoration n our county,” said District 2 Supervisor and Chair of the Board Jeronimo Vasquez. “These studies represent an advancement of that commitment and a continued focus on our county’s top two public safety threats: Wildfire and post-wildfire flooding.”
“It’s a matter of ‘when’, not ‘if’ we will see a wildfire in this region,” said District 1 Supervisor Patrice Horstman, whose District boundaries encompass much of the Upper Rio De Flag Watershed. “Knowing what we do now, there is no time to waste in pursuing forest restoration and other actions that can reduce our level of risk. We look forward to working closely with the U.S. Forest Service and other partners to address the threat in the Upper Rio.”
When it comes to the forest restoration needed in the Upper Rio De Flag Watershed, “We’re not starting from zero,” said Coconino County Forest Restoration Director Jay Smith. “The Coconino National Forest has already begun some forest restoration treatments in the area, and the District has been laying the foundation to develop regional forest restoration for years.”
To that end, Coconino County recently received an ‘A’ rating as a Bioeconomy Development Opportunity Zone a metric administered by Ecostrat to indicate where there is opportunity to develop industry around biomass, such as the wood that would be removed in forest restoration operations.
“This rating will help attract more industry partners to accelerate the forest restoration needed in the Upper Rio as well as in the Four Forest Restoration footprint,” Smith added.
On March 5 representatives of the Coconino National Forest with join the District in a follow-up presentation to discuss the plan for forest restoration in the Upper Rio De Flag Watershed. Information on how to attend this meeting and access the recent presentation from February 27 can be found at: www.coconino.az.gov/104/Board-of-Supervisors.
Prescribed Fires planned on Verde Ranger District
Fire Managers on the Verde Ranger District plan to conduct two prescribed fire operations in the Agua Fria area this week. The project is located in between Dugas Road and HWY 169 on the east side of I-17. (Area map). Ignitions are planned to start Thursday, February 29 and continue through Friday, March 1 pending suitable conditions. Fire crews plan to treat a large surface area with broadcast burning to improve wildlife habitat and the resiliency of grassland ecosystems.
The two units total 2,025 acres and mainly consist of grass fuels. Smoke will be visible from I-17, Highway 69, Highway 169 and the communities of Dewey/Humboldt, and Arcosanti/Cordes Junction. Smoke is expected to be light throughout the ignition period and should dissipate quickly after ignitions are complete.
The following burns are planned:
- Hooker North RX - 972 acres
- South Cattle East RX - 1053 acres
Ignitions will depend upon agency administrator approval and conditions within the ranges outlined in burn plans. Burn plans consider temperature, humidity, wind, moisture of the vegetation and conditions for dispersal of smoke.
Prescribed fires are utilized to remove hazardous fuels and return nutrients to the soils when seasonal weather opportunities allow for the use of fire safely and effectively. Reducing hazardous fuels will help reduce the threat of high-severity, high-intensity wildfire to the public, adjacent private property, and communities.
In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to obey all traffic signs and use caution when traveling in the vicinity of the prescribed burn as firefighters and fire-related traffic will be in the area.
Prescott National Forest’s land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health and the strategy includes reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape. Using low to moderate fire behavior, we can better protect communities, while improving watersheds, wildlife habitat, and forest health.
All prescribed fire activity is dependent on the availability of personnel and equipment, weather, fuels, and conditions that minimize smoke impacts as much as possible, and approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (www.azdeq.gov).
Messages will be posted on social media when prescribed fires are ignited on the Prescott National Forest:
- Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF/
- X/Twitter https://twitter.com/PrescottNF
For fire information please call (928) 925-1111; or stay up to date on Prescott National Forest news by checking the Prescott NF website and following us on Facebook and X/Twitter.
Mesa Ranger District will resume pile burning to reduce wildfire risk to facilities and high-use recreational sites
Tonto National Forest firefighters will begin a one-day, prescribed pile burn on the Mesa Ranger District, Feb. 26.
Firefighters will burn piles containing dead brush and limbs to reduce hazardous fuels from administrative sites and recreational areas at Pebble Beach and near Butcher Jones. One burn pile to be ignited is located between mile posts 207 and 208 on State Route 87. Motorist should expect to see smoke in the area.
Reducing these hazardous fuels from high-use recreation areas can help to limit the threat of wildfires to infrastructure and other values at risk. In addition, burning piles mitigates potential smoke impacts to the area by reducing the amount and duration of smoke in the air.
These treatments improve plant and wildlife habitat to increase biodiversity for wildlife corridors. Prescribed fires also help protect culturally significant native foods and plants, improve timber stands and recreational opportunities, and reduce the threat of invasive species on the landscape.
Prescribed fire operations are part of the USDA Forest Service’s overarching wildfire crisis strategy to reduce wildfire risk to people, communities, and natural resources while sustaining and restoring healthy, resilient fire-adapted forests. Visit the Confronting the Wildfire Crisis webpage for information about the USDA Forest Service’s 10-year strategy to address the wildfire crisis and learn about the additional $500 million allocated by the Biden-Harris Administration to reduce the risk of wildfires to communities, critical infrastructure and natural resources from the nation’s ongoing wildfire crisis.
For additional information, contact the Mesa Ranger Station located at 5140 E. Ingram Street, Mesa, Arizona. Or phone the station at (480) 610-3300 Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. and noon and from 12:30 - 4:30 p.m.
For the latest news and information about the Tonto National Forest, follow along on Facebook @TontoNationalForest or X (formally Twitter) @TontoForest.
A photo of the Mesquite Wash pile burn February 23 2024.pngA photo of the Lower Salt River pile burns February 23 2024.png
Arizona Foresty Conducting Pile Burn Operation at Dead Horse Ranch State Park
On Tuesday, February 27, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) begins a one-day prescribed burn operation at Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood. The project involves the removal of approximately 10 acres of debris piles leftover from prior fuels reduction work conducted at the park.
Project managers expect DFFM’s Lewis Crew to begin ignitions around 9:00 a.m. with completion by the early afternoon. Due to the location of the burn, the project may be highly visible to the communities of Cottonwood, Clarksdale, Jerome, and the west end of Sedona. Burn managers expect any potential smoke impacts to be minimal and of short duration. Potential incoming weather will help with smoke dispersal. Dead Horse Ranch State Park will remain open to visitors. DFFM and Arizona State Parks and Trails collaborate frequently to minimize any potential wildfire threat to Arizona’s parks and neighborhoods within the vicinity. State Parks conducts the fuels reduction work and DFFM provides the qualified fire resources to burn off the piles. Pile burning provides a more efficient and effective way to reduce leftover debris from previous fuels work.
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality must approve all prescribed fire projects, both pile and broadcast burns, prior to ignitions. Prescribed fires are also weather dependent and can be cancelled or rescheduled due to unfavorable conditions and out of firefighter or public safety concerns.
Prescribed fire ignition notification is available on DFFM’s X page: https://twitter.com/azstateforestry and Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/arizonaforestry/. Notifications will also be made via the agency’s mobile phone application.
To download the free app visit: https://www.apexmobile.net/app/azdffm/. For more information, contact Tiffany Davila
at (602) 540-1036 or by email at [email protected].
West Escudilla Pile Burn planned on Springerville Ranger District
The Springerville Ranger District is planning prescribed fire pile burns across 600 acres within the West Escudilla pinyon-juniper treatment units. Encroaching junipers were thinned in an effort to decrease tree density and canopy cover, and to prevent regrowth of new juniper to restore the fuel type to grassland, its original fire regime. A ‘fire regime’ is the term given to the general pattern in which fires naturally occur in a particular ecosystem over an extended period of time.
Winter is an optimal time to burn piled slash and woody debris because snow on the ground keeps the fire from spreading to adjacent vegetation. Recent weather has provided ideal conditions and fire managers will look for opportunities to initiate burning between February 16 and February 29, 2024.
The project area is located 10-15 miles southwest of Springerville-Eagar. Smoke from these prescribed fire pile burns is expected to be minimal but may impact Highways 60 and 180/191 and the communities of Springerville-Eagar. Drivers are cautioned that visibility may be reduced, especially in the overnight hours when smoke settles near the ground.
Each prescribed fire is designed to accomplish specific objectives and is managed with firefighter and public safety as the highest priority. Fire managers use prescribed fire to improve forest health, remove hazardous fuels, increase firefighter safety, enhance wildlife habitat, and protect communities and watersheds. Landscape treatments on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests align with the Forest Service's 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to increase the use of fire on the landscape and other treatments to improve forest health.
Air quality information is available at https://www.airnow.gov/. Visit the A-S National Forests website and follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter).
BLM plans prescribed burns in Yavapai County
The Bureau of Land Management’s Phoenix District is planning prescribed burning operations to burn cut and piled brush from public lands in Yavapai County near Skull Valley and Yarnell. Burning may occur over multiple days through February as conditions allow.
BLM fire personnel will burn juniper piles cut from 50 acres of public lands about three miles east of Skull Valley. They will also burn piles from 30 acres of public lands about one mile south of Yarnell east of State Route 89. Thinning and burning juniper that has encroached into grasslands helps open wildlife corridors, reduce predator cover, and improve wildlife forage. Reduced fuel loads also help to lessen the intensity of unplanned wildfires and their impact on nearby communities.
To ensure public safety, BLM firefighters will ignite the piles only when weather conditions are conducive to safely burning. They will remain on scene to monitor public and resource safety. Area residents may see some light smoke during the burn operation. No local road closures are expected.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 provided funding for this prescribed burn. The legislation funds fuel treatments to help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and benefit neighboring communities.
For more information, contact Public Affairs Specialist, Chris Wonderly, at (602) 818-8295, or [email protected].
Measles Case Confirmed in Maricopa County as Cases Rise in U.S., Overseas
As measles cases rise across the United States and overseas, a measles case has been confirmed within Maricopa County involving an international visitor. Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) is currently conducting an investigation.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that can spread through the air. Those who are unvaccinated are at highest risk of developing the disease if exposed. Measles virus can survive in the air for several hours and may be transmitted to unvaccinated individuals even after the infected person left the room. Almost every person exposed to measles will get sick if they have not been vaccinated with the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine or had the disease in the past. A person with measles can give the disease to other people even before they feel sick. Measles can cause serious illness, especially in young children, pregnant women and people with depressed immune systems.
“Measles is both highly infectious and completely preventable,” said Dr. Nick Staab, assistant medical director for MCDPH. “We encourage residents to stay up-to-date on their vaccines and watch for symptoms of measles, especially if you are high risk or unvaccinated,” Dr. Staab added.
Measles usually begins with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red or watery eyes. A rash usually appears 3 to 5 days later. The rash often begins on the forehead and spreads downward to other parts of the body. Individuals with a depressed immune system and those vaccinated with MMR between 1964 and 1967 may not have a typical rash.
Symptoms consistent with measles include:
- Fever
- Cough
- White spots in the throat
- Runny nose
- Red and/or watery eyes
- Rash
It can take up to 21 days after their last exposure for a person infected with measles to start showing symptoms.
In the event you experience fever, cough, runny nose, rash, or any other symptoms of measles:
- Please self-isolate, stay away from others and contact your healthcare provider by phone and let them know you are concerned you may have measles. They will let you know when to visit their office so as not to expose others in the waiting area.
- If you do not have a health care provider and need to seek care, please contact the urgent care or hospital before visiting and let them know that you suspect measles.
If your healthcare provider thinks that you have measles, please have your provider call (602) 506-6767 to notify MCDPH immediately so that appropriate follow-up can be initiated.
MCDPH will provide more information as the investigation continues.
For additional information on measles, please visit the MCDPH measles website.
Potential avalanche hazard and other winter hazards
The Coconino County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Unit and the Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center would like to remind those recreating in the winter backcountry, particularly on the San Francisco Peaks, about some potential hazards.
Northern Arizona is currently experiencing a significant winter weather event. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning, as the first in a series of three storms descends on the region. Storm totals above 10,000 feet on the
San Francisco Peaks could reach nearly 4 feet over the next 4 days. If maximum totals accumulate, dangerous avalanche conditions could result near and above tree line.
As new snow loads the current snowpack, weak layers at the bottom and middle, could release, resulting in large to very large avalanches. This storm is accompanied by high winds, which could further load some slopes. Human-triggered avalanches will be likely. This storm could lead to the first natural avalanche cycle of the season. Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center is recommending that skiers and riders avoid near tree line and above tree line slopes at all aspects until the danger subsides. For updated information, please see the avalanche forecast at www.Kachinapeaks.org.
In addition to the potential avalanche hazard on the San Francisco Peaks, winter weather hazards will exist throughout portions of Northern Arizona. Deep snow will make travel by foot and vehicle difficult. Some area roadways may be closed due to the snowfall and drivers should not be tempted to take alternative routes suggested by navigation apps, especially roads that are not routinely plowed or patrolled. It is generally best to wait out the closure in your vehicle or in town rather than attempt an unknown alternate route. Travelers should be prepared with extra supplies in their vehicles with an expectation of longer travel times and occasional road closures.
Those recreating on foot in the backcountry should be prepared for over the snow travel in deep snow and have the necessary equipment to safely negotiate the environment including navigation equipment (map, compass, GPS), food and water, extra warm clothing, headlamp or flashlight, first aid kit, emergency shelter materials, fire starting kit, pocket knife/multi-tool, whistle and signal mirror, and a fully charged cell phone with a back-up battery.
In potential avalanche terrain it is important to carry an avalanche transceiver, avalanche probe, and avalanche shovel with the knowledge of how to use those tools and backcountry travelers should not travel alone. Leaving a detailed trip plan with a trusted person not on the trip is important so that search and rescue knows where to look in the event that a someone is overdue.
Alpine Ranger District looks to complete prescribed fire operations on West Escudilla Restoration Project piles
Fire managers on the Alpine Ranger District have completed prescribed fire pile burns across 1,165 acres in the West Escudilla Restoration Project where timber thinning was conducted. The Pace Creek and ELC units were successfully burned and met the objectives of treating cumulative fuel loading and reducing potential threats from wildfires.
The remaining 49 acres to be burned in the Loco Knoll unit is located 11 miles north of Alpine and 14 miles southeast of Springerville. Slash piles are east of Forest Road (FR) 275, along FR 8889D, north of FR 851, and west of the Arizona-New Mexico State line.
Ignitions on the Loco Knoll project, weather and site conditions permitting, is slated to begin February 6, and is expected to be completed by February 9, 2024 if weather conditions allow.
Smoke will be visible and may impact Highway 180/191 and the communities of Alpine and Nutrioso. Drivers are cautioned that visibility may be reduced, especially in the overnight hours when smoke settles near the ground.
Landscape treatments on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests align with the Forest Service's 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to increase the use of fire on the landscape and other treatments to improve forest health.
Air quality information is available at https://www.airnow.gov/. Visit the A-S National Forests website and follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter).
AlpineDistrictPilesRX_PIOmap_20240118.jpg
Coconino County Flood Control District completes step in Post-Wildfire Flood Mitigation Project
The Coconino County Flood Control District has delivered another substantial element of post-wildfire flood mitigation to Flagstaff’s Spruce Avenue Wash Flood Corridor/Museum Flood Area with completion of the second and final phase of the Park Way Sediment Basins Project.
The Park Way Sediment Basins Project is one of a suite of ongoing post-wildfire flood mitigation projects in Spruce Avenue Wash, which was heavily impacted by flood flows from the Museum Fire scar in 2021. Phase I was completed in June 2023, and with the completion of Phase II, the project now includes three sediment basins with a total capacity of nine acre-feet—about the same as four and a half Olympic swimming pools.
“We know that sediment loads are a large contributor to overwhelming the infrastructure and flooding within post-wildfire flood corridors,” said Lucinda Andreani, Coconino County Flood Control District Administrator. “These sediment basins, in conjunction with the watershed restoration we have conducted upstream, will be key to minimizing the amount of flood sediment and debris that ends up downstream, which is important to the significant infrastructure investment the City is making downstream.”
The Park Way Sediment Basins were constructed on a parcel owned by the City of Flagstaff. They were engineered by Natural Channel Design Engineering to include three sediment basins, erosion control structures, and a re-establishment of a trail that previously occupied the area. The project was funded through the District and a grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) at total cost of over $1.4 million. Two separate contractors—Tiffany Construction and Kinney Construction Services (KCS)—participated in the construction effort, which was challenging due to its placement within a dense residential area.
“KCS coordinated with the team from Natural Channel Design and the City of Flagstaff for pre-determined hauling routes to ease congestion in the Park Site neighborhood,” said Will Odell, spokesperson for KCS. “Safety and public awareness were key elements for project success in this busy corridor along Linda Vista.”
City of Flagstaff flood mitigation projects in the Spruce Avenue Wash Flood Corridor are ongoing. For more information, visit www.museumfloodprojects.com.
Pile burns planned today on Coconino National Forest
The Coconino National Forest will conduct pile burns in two different locations today.
The Flagstaff Ranger District (FRD) will burn 1,320 acres of piles located at Willard Springs, 5 miles north of Munds Park.
Smoke impact is anticipated to be minimal but may briefly affect Interstate 17.
The Mogollon Rim Ranger District (MRRD) will burn 2 acres of piles located at Bly Pit, 14 miles northeast of Clints Well.
There are no anticipated road or trail closures due to any of the pile burn projects. Please refrain from calling dispatch lines if you see smoke from these pile burns so lines can remain open for any emergencies.
Burn plans may change at any time due to wind and weather conditions and forecasts.
Pile burns are an important part of forest restoration projects planned in accordance with the Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy.
Pile burns work alongside both prescribed fire and mechanical thinning to remove fuels such as woody debris and logging scraps from the forest floor during times of opportune weather.
Fire managers make every effort to effectively plan and execute burn plans at times when weather allows for smoke impacts to be minimized and transport up and over communities.
For more information about prescribed burns and why wildfire is a necessary part of this ecosystem, please visit our Prescribed Fires and Smoke web page and view the video Misconceptions and Benefits of Fire.
Lakeside Ranger District continues pile burning
Fire managers on the Lakeside Ranger District plan to continue prescribed fire operations on the Cabin unit slash piles. The project area is approximately 40 acres and is expected to be completed either today or tomorrow. Piles are composed of timber slash created from thinning projects or wildfire suppression activities and are treated to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations. Prescribed fire operations are contingent on multiple factors, including favorable weather conditions, air quality, and resource availability.
The Cabin project area is located 2 miles northeast of Lakeside, AZ. The project boundary is the Osprey Connector Trail, Forest Road (FR) 9712C, and FR 45. Fire crews will patrol the burn area each day until there is no threat of fire movement.
The objective for these prescribed fires is to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations and minimize the risk of high-severity wildfires, aligning with the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy.
Smoke impacts are expected to be minimal and may be visible from Highways 60, 77, and 260. Travelers are advised to use extra caution when driving in the vicinity during project implementation.
Air quality information is available at https://www.airnow.gov/. Visit the A-S National Forests website and follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter).