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Firefighters are halting firing operations on both the Cecil and Still fires in advance of forecast increased wind speeds.

Both fires have been staffed with additional firefighters who plan to spend the weekend holding and securing existing fire line.

So far, crews have successfully treated a combined 2,500 acres of Coconino National Forest land on both the Flagstaff Ranger District and the Mogollon Rim Ranger District due to both lightning-caused fires.

Land treatment removes fuels – such as dead trees and pine needle accumulation – from the forest floor to reduce the risk of high-intensity wildfire.

Both the Cecil and Still fires are being managed to reduce those hazardous fuels and improve forest health as guided by Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy.

Cecil Fire

The Cecil Fire, located southwest of Flagstaff, was reported at 2,180 acres Thursday morning.

It is burning on both Coconino NF and Arizona State Trust lands, and a closure order has been issued for the fire area.

Fire managers do not plan to conduct additional firing operations this week due to a forecast increase in wind speeds. Fire managers are utilizing the next two days before the wind event to secure the current fire edge on all sides of the fire.

Relative humidities at night are in the 80-90% range, which saturate the fine fuels and decrease their ability to accept and spread fire, which is working in the firefighters’ favor.

Resources assigned to the Cecil Fire include two Hotshot crews, two hand crews, two engines, a dozer, a water tender and miscellaneous overhead.

One additional hand crew has been added to the resources already in place to help hold the fire during the wind event.

During the wind event, crews will be deployed across the fire perimeter to continue to secure the fires edge. Crews are also continuing to prep lines on the north and east sides of the fire for the possibility of additional firing operations next week if conditions allow.

While smoke impact will decrease over the coming days, smoke will remain noticeable in both the Flagstaff and Sedona areas as well as along 89A.

There are no structures at risk.

The Cecil Fire was first reported Sept. 18 and is burning in Ponderosa pine.

Flagstaff residents and Coconino NF visitors can check InciWeb for fire updates throughout the coming days.

Still Fire

The Still Fire, located 4 miles northeast of the Highway 87 and Lake Mary Road junction, is roughly 300 acres following successful firing operations conducted Wednesday.

Fire managers are conducting firing operations on the Still Fire throughout the day today and aspire to have an additional 1,200 acres of land treated by the end of today’s operations.

Following today’s operations, crews will pivot and begin holding and securing existing fire line in advance of the weekend winds.

There are no structures threatened by the Still Fire, which is burning through pine litter.

Roughly 41 personnel are assigned to the Still Fire, including three engines, one Hotshot crew, one fuels crew, a dozer and miscellaneous overhead.

Forest visitors and motorists can expect smoke impacts in the Blue Ridge communities, along Highway 87 and in the Little Springs area.

The Arizona Department of Transportation will be assisting motorists along Highway 87 during firing operations for public safety.

Highway 87 may close at any time for public safety and motorists are reminded to check the Arizona Department of Transportation website for information regarding state road closures.

Motorists are asked to remain cognizant of firefighting operations and to expect traffic delays.

While there are no road, trail or area closures in effect at this time, a closure order will likely be implemented soon and forest visitors are asked to abide by all posted signage and barriers.

The Still Fire was first reported Sept. 14, and updates can be found on InciWeb.

Smoke impact and future wildfire mitigation

The Coconino NF is a fire-adapted ecosystem, which needs incremental fire to maintain forest resiliency. 

We recognize smoke can be impactful and inconvenient for area residents and visitors. Managing these fires and reducing the hazardous fuels in these areas of the forest under the current weather conditions will temporarily produce heavy smoke impacts, but it will also reduce the amount of fuel on the ground and help protect communities from high-intensity wildfires. If a future wildfire starts in this area, it will be more manageable and it will result in fewer overall smoke impacts to the communities.

For current information on smoke, visit the Fire and Smoke Map via airnow.gov.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA).

The tests are scheduled for Wednesday, October 4th at 11:20 AM Arizona time (12:20 PM Navajo Nation time).

According to FEMA, the purpose of the test is “to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level.” All messaging received by the public during this test will clearly state that the message is a TEST and that no action is needed.

FEMA plans to use the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) to deliver test messaging to wireless devices nationwide.

“While this test will be conducted by FEMA, and not Coconino County Emergency Management, it will use some of the same delivery methods we utilize to disseminate life safety messaging in response to dangerous incidents or significant events. IPAWS is an incredibly powerful tool to alert specific areas in a very short amount of time,” said Tim Carter, Deputy Director of Coconino County Emergency Management.

More information can be found at www.coconino.az.gov/ready or www.fema.gov. If residents have additional questions, or need more information, they can contact Coconino County Emergency Management at 928-679-8311, or by email at [email protected].

 Crews are working to secure the southwest corner of the fire perimeter and increase interior depth prior to the arrival of strong winds over the weekend.

Operations: Wednesday, crews held the perimeter of the fire along FSRD 411 to Lost Salt Canyon and FSRD 200 while other crews cleared snags along FSRD 778. Pumps and hose lines were set up in Haigler Creek to help secure the south-central containment line where there is no road access. Today, aerial and hand ignitions will continue to bring the fire line downslope towards Haigler Creek and FSRD 848. Crews will be patrolling and holding established containment lines throughout the day.

Fire Ecology: Wildlife is rarely killed directly by fire, though uncharacteristically severe fire may cause significant damage to wildlife habitat. Animals that are most vulnerable to fire are those with limited mobility, live above ground and/or are nesting or young when the fire goes through an area. Slower moving fires, like the Valentine, can allow enough time for wildlife to react to the fire, and they often return to the recently burned areas soon after the fire is done burning to take advantage of the new growth.

Weather: Wednesday, temperatures were cooler with an inversion in the morning and light winds. Today, expect high clouds with a slight cool down and sunny in late afternoon as the clouds disperse.  Winds are expected to be the same today as yesterday.

Closures: An emergency closure order for the Valentine Fire has gone into effect as of 6 a.m. Sept. 5, 2023. The public is asked to avoid the fire area. The purpose of the closure order is to protect public health and safety during the Valentine Fire, and to protect assigned firefighting personnel engaging in wildland firefighting operations. Signs and gates will be in place to remind the public not to enter the fire area. Please visit the Alerts and Notices page for more information. https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters, and the public are always the highest priority. Members of the public are asked to avoid the fire area.

Smoke: The fire will produce considerable amounts of smoke due to excessive fuel accumulation. Smoke from the Valentine Fire may be visible in the surrounding areas for many days. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. An interactive smoke map available at, https://www.airnow.gov/wildfires/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Fire details

• Size: 9,015 acres
• Start Date:  August 16, 2023
• Cause: Lightning
• Completion: 95%
• Total personnel: 200
• Location: 11 miles northeast of Young, Arizona and 27 miles east of Payson, Arizona
• Fuels: Ponderosa Pine, Hardwood litter and timber

Information Links and Contacts

• Tonto National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/tonto/fire
• InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/aztnf-valentine-fire
• Fire Emai: [email protected]
• Fire Information Line: (928) 362-0101 • Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM unnamed (11).jpg

Following a day of successful management actions on the Cecil Fire, located southwest of Flagstaff, crews plan to continue firing operations on the Cecil while also beginning firing operations on the Still Fire, located on the Coconino National Forest’s Mogollon Rim Ranger District.

Both the Cecil and Still fires are lightning-caused wildfires being managed to reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health as guided by Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy.

Due to the accumulated fuels in the fire areas, both wildfires will generate significant smoke during planned firing operations.

We recognize smoke can be impactful and inconvenient for area residents and visitors. Managing these fires and reducing the hazardous fuels in these areas of the forest under the current weather conditions will temporarily produce heavy smoke impacts, but it will also reduce the amount of fuel on the ground and help protect communities from high-intensity wildfires. If a future wildfire starts in this area, it will be more manageable and it will result in fewer overall smoke impacts to the communities.

The Coconino NF is a fire-adapted ecosystem, which needs incremental fire to maintain forest resiliency.

For current information on smoke, visit the Fire and Smoke Map via airnow.gov.

Cecil Fire:

The Cecil Fire was reported at 500 acres Wednesday morning, and firing operations are slated to continue today and possibly Thursday. The Cecil Fire is planned to grow to 2,100 acres by the end of this week’s management actions.

Fire managers do not plan to conduct firing operations past Thursday morning due to a forecast increase in wind speeds. Crews will spend the weekend securing lines around the fire’s perimeter.

Resources assigned to the Cecil Fire include two Hotshot crews, two engines, one engine crew, one hand crew, a water tender and miscellaneous overhead. More resources have been ordered to the fire to help with planned operations.

Smoke will remain highly visible from the Flagstaff and Sedona areas as well as along 89A. Smoke may settle into the Oak Creek Canyon area during the evening.

There are no structures at risk, and – while there is no closure order in place – forest visitors are asked to avoid the fire area while firefighters work.

The Cecil Fire was first reported Sept. 18 and is burning in Ponderosa pine.

Flagstaff residents and Coconino NF visitors can check InciWeb for fire updates throughout the coming days.

Still Fire:

The Still Fire has been slowly smoldering since Sept. 14 and was reported at 6 acres yesterday evening.

Firefighters have been conducting firing operations today and will continue with those operations tomorrow following several days of containment line preparation work. Fire managers aspire to treat 300 acres of land today.

There are no structures threatened by the Still Fire, which is burning through pine litter.

Roughly 35 personnel are assigned to the Still Fire, including three engines, one Hotshot crew, one fuels crew, a dozer and miscellaneous overhead.

Forest visitors and motorists can expect smoke impacts in the Blue Ridge communities and along Highway 87. The Arizona Department of Transportation will be assisting motorists along Highway 87 during firing operations for public safety. Motorists are asked to remain cognizant of firefighting operations and to expect traffic delays.

The Still Fire is in the Blue Ridge urban interface, in an area that has been slated for upcoming fuels treatments including prescribed fire.

The management of the Still Fire will help reduce hazardous fuels, such as dead and down trees, and work to protect infrastructure, property and resources both south and west of the nearby Blue Ridge communities, including the C.C. Cragin watershed.

There are no road, trail or area closures in effect at this time.

Yesterday, crews continued working along the FSRD 411 westward to Lost Salt Canyon. Today, crews will continue with hand and aerial ignitions keeping the line even and working east from FSRD 200 along FSRD 848 and Haigler Creek.

Operations: Yesterday, Crews continued work along FSRD 411 bringing fire along the containment line to Lost Salt Canyon. Hand and aerial ignitions took place on the western portion of the fire along FSRD 200 progressing toward the southwest corner. Today, hand and aerial ignitions will continue as crews bring the fire around the southwest corner along FSRD 200 to FSRD 920.

Fire Ecology: When trees are killed in a fire it’s not always the end of their story; many species depend on ‘snag habitat’. When a tree dies some of the first creatures that show up are wood-boring insects. They tunnel into the tree, providing access for fungi and other insects. This then attracts woodpeckers and other insect eaters, who will further expand these holes while trying to extract insects. Over time these holes grow within the tree, creating homes for other birds and some mammals. Bats roost behind loose bark and raptors often nest in snags or perch in them to look for prey. Eventually the tree will rot and fall, but until then it provides important services to many things.

Weather: Yesterday, temperatures were in the low 80’s with light wind out of the southwest. Today, temperature will be in the high 70’s to low 80’s with light winds expected.

Closures: An emergency closure order for the Valentine Fire went into effect as of 6 a.m. Sept. 5, 2023. The public is asked to avoid the fire area. The purpose of the closure order is to protect public health and safety during the Valentine Fire, and to protect assigned firefighting personnel engaging in wildland firefighting operations. Signs and gates will be in place to remind the public not to enter the fire area. Please visit the Alerts and Notices page for more information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters, and the public are always the highest priority. Members of the public are asked to avoid the fire area.

Smoke: The fire will produce considerable amounts of smoke due to excessive fuel accumulation. Smoke from the Valentine Fire may be visible in the surrounding areas for many days. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. An interactive smoke map available at, https://www.airnow.gov/wildfires/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Fire details:

• Size: 8,492 acres
• Start Date:  August 16, 2023
• Cause: Lightning
• Completion: 92%
• Total personnel: 195
• Location: 11 miles northeast of Young, Arizona and 27 miles east of Payson, Arizona
• Fuels: Ponderosa Pine, Hardwood litter and timber

Information Links and Contacts:
Tonto National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/tonto/fire
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/aztnf-valentine-fire
Fire Email: [email protected]
Fire Information Line: (928) 362-0101 • Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

A map of the Valentine fire September 27 2023.jpg

The Coconino National Forest is responding to two separate lightning-caused wildfires: the Cecil Fire, located on the Flagstaff Ranger District, and the Still Fire, located on the Mogollon Rim Ranger District.

The Coconino NF often strategically manages lightning-caused wildfires to benefit the overall health of the fire-adapted forest and plans to use the natural ignitions of both the Cecil and Still fires in this manner.

Wildfires are a natural part of the Coconino NF’s ecosystem, and when managed diligently and properly following the requisite planning process, improve the landscape long-term in several ways.

Cecil Fire:

The Cecil Fire, located west of Highway 89A (GPS: 35.065883, -111.764550), is currently 40 acres. It was first reported Sept. 18, and has been moving at a low-to-moderate rate of intensity through Ponderosa pine.

The Cecil Fire is currently staffed by two engines, one engine crew, one hand crew and miscellaneous overhead. Firefighters have spent the past several days preparing lines for firing operations, which will begin today. The fire is planned to grow to 2,100 acres within the next several days as fire managers take advantage of favorable weather conditions.

Smoke will remain highly visible during firing operations from the Flagstaff and Sedona areas as well as along 89A. Smoke may settle into the Oak Creek Canyon area during the evening.

There are no structures at risk, and – while there is no closure order in place – forest visitors are asked to avoid the fire area and remain cognizant of firefighting operations.

Still Fire:

The Still Fire, located near the intersection of Highway 87 and Forest Road (FR) 751 (GPS: 34.582462311, -111.253540039) has been slowly smoldering since Sept. 14.

There are no structures threatened by the Still Fire. Resources assigned to the Still Fire include two engine modules, one fuels crew and miscellaneous overhead. Crews plan to conduct firing operations Wednesday and Thursday.

Forest visitors and motorists can expect smoke impacts in the Blue Ridge communities and along Highway 87.

The Still Fire is in the Blue Ridge urban interface, in an area that has been slated for upcoming fuels treatments including prescribed fire.

The management of the Still Fire will help reduce hazardous fuels and work to protect infrastructure, property and resources both south and west of the nearby Blue Ridge communities, including the C.C. Cragin watershed.

There are no road, trail or area closures in effect, but the public is asked to remain aware of and avoid areas of firefighting operations.

Wildfire Crisis Strategy:

The management of the Still and Cecil fires aligns with the Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to increase the use of fire on the landscape as well as other treatments to improve forest resiliency for generations to come.

As part of the Wildfire Crisis Strategy, Coconino NF fire managers will look for opportunities to both strategically manage lightning-caused wildfires for forest health and to implement prescribed fire projects as weather conditions allow within the coming months.

Northern Arizona residents and forest visitors are encouraged to periodically check InciWeb for updates on wildfires and smoke impact.

Monday, crews continued with hand ignitions and aerial operations adding depth to the interior of the fire. Today, crews will continue working along the FSRD 411 westward toward FSRD 178 and 778.

Operations: Monday, crews worked the southern edge of the fire along FSRD 411, conducting hand and aerial ignitions to add depth to the interior of the fire and keeping the line even with the road. Crews used heavy equipment to create depth and make improvements to the containment line along FSRD 848. Today, Crews will continue work along FSRD 411 bringing fire along the containment line west to FSRD 178 and FSRD 788. Hand and aerial ignitions will take place on the western portion of the fire along FSRD 200 progressing toward the southwest corner.

Fire Ecology: "Fire intensity” is a reference to how fast a fire is converting fuel to heat and is closely related to the length of the flames; the longer the flames, the higher the intensity. Fire ‘severity’ is about the effects of a fire. While fire intensity and fire severity are closely related, it is possible to get high-severity effects from a low-intensity fire (deep duff smoldering for a long time in a forest) and low-severity effects from a high-intensity fire (healthy, tall grass burning in a long-leaf pine forest with a high canopy base height).

Weather: Monday was sunny and warm with highs in the upper 70’s, low 80’s and slight winds moving toward the northeast. Today, temperatures will be in the low 80’s with light wind out of the southwest.

Closures: An emergency closure order for the Valentine Fire has gone into effect as of 6 a.m. Sept. 5, 2023. The public is asked to avoid the fire area. The purpose of the closure order is to protect public health and safety during the Valentine Fire, and to protect assigned firefighting personnel engaging in wildland firefighting operations. Signs and gates will be in place to remind the public not to enter the fire area. Please visit the Alerts and Notices page for more information. https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters, and the public are always the highest priority. Members of the public are asked to avoid the fire area.
 
Smoke: The fire will produce considerable amounts of smoke due to excessive fuel accumulation. Smoke from the Valentine Fire may be visible in the surrounding areas for many days. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. An interactive smoke map available at, https://www.airnow.gov/wildfires/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Fire details:
Size: 7,724 acres
Start Date:  August 16, 2023
Cause: Lightning
Completion: 83%
Total personnel: 204
Location: 11 miles northeast of Young, Arizona and 27 miles east of Payson, Arizona
Fuels: Ponderosa Pine, Hardwood litter and timber

Information Links and Contacts:
Tonto National Forest  https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/tonto/fire
InciWeb   https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/aztnf-valentine-fire
Fire Email [email protected]
Fire Information Line (928) 421-4579 • Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

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Yesterday, with the sunnier weather crews were able to continue to progress the fire’s edge to the south towards FSRD 411. Today crews will continue with hand and aerial operations adding depth to the interior of the fire.

Operations: Yesterday, warmer and dryer conditions allowed crews to continue hand and aerial ignitions, creating more depth towards the southern containment line. Scouting continued to the north side of Haigler Creek. Today, crews will work the southern edge of the fire along FSRD 411, conducting hand and aerial ignitions to add depth to the interior of the fire and keeping the line even with the road. Crews will be using heavy equipment to add depth to the containment line along FSRD 848.

Fire Ecology: ‘Fire regime’ is a term that is used to describe the typical roles of fire in specific vegetation types. The two most commonly used measures for a fire regime are frequency (how often an area burns) and severity (how much change there is before and after a fire). A ponderosa pine forest has a high frequency / low severity fire regime because it evolved with frequent fires which did not kill most of the dominant vegetation (ponderosa pines). Grasslands usually have a high frequency/high severity fire regime because fires consume most of the dominant vegetation (grass).

Weather: Yesterday, conditions were dryer, sunnier, and warmer than previous days. Today is expected to be sunny and warm with a High in the high 70’s and slight winds out of the northeast.

Closures: An emergency closure order for the Valentine Fire went into effect as of 6 a.m. Sept. 5, 2023. The public is asked to avoid the fire area. The purpose of the closure order is to protect public health and safety during the Valentine Fire, and to protect assigned firefighting personnel engaging in wildland firefighting operations. Signs and gates will be in place to remind the public not to enter the fire area. Please visit the Alerts and Notices page for more information:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters, and the public are always the highest priority. Members of the public are asked to avoid the fire area.

Smoke: The fire will produce considerable amounts of smoke due to excessive fuel accumulation. Smoke from the Valentine Fire may be visible in the surrounding areas for many days. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. An interactive smoke map available at, https://www.airnow.gov/wildfires/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Fire details:

• Size: 7,223 acres
• Start Date:  August 16, 2023
• Cause: Lightning
• Completion: 80%
• Total personnel: 195
• Location: 11 miles northeast of Young, Arizona and 27 miles east of Payson, Arizona
• Fuels: Ponderosa Pine, Hardwood litter and timber

Important fire  information:
Tonto National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/tonto/fire
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/aztnf-valentine-fire
Fire Email: [email protected]
Fire Information Line (928) 421-4579
Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

A map of the Valentine fire September 25 2023.jpg

With cloud cover and the rain received yesterday, hand and aerial ignitions were suspended until weather conditions improve. Today, with sunnier weather, the crews will be able to continue to progress the fire’s edge to the south towards FSRD 411.

Operations: Due to the moisture received yesterday, no ignitions were performed. Crews continued prep on the southern portion of FSRD 200 and did some mastication work on FSRD 848. Another crew prepped an unburned 30-acre section for treatment.  Today will be dryer allowing crews to continue hand and aerial ignitions, creating more depth towards the southern containment line. Scouting will continue to the north side of Haigler Creek for future access routes.

Fire Ecology: High-severity fire effects are occurring in small patches across the landscape where the Valentine Fire has been burning. Historically, there would always have been small patches of high severity scattered across the forest, usually less than an acre. This patchy burning maintains a ‘mosaic’ of vegetation conditions across the landscape which affects the behavior and severity patterns of future fires. This also helps to create and maintain ideal habitat for a variety of plant and animal species.

Weather: Yesterday, cloud cover remained all day with trace amounts of precipitation.  Today will be dry, sunny, and warmer weather is expected to increase through the middle of the week.

Closures: An emergency closure order for the Valentine Fire went into effect 6 a.m. Sept. 5, 2023. The public is asked to avoid the fire area. The purpose of the closure order is to protect public health and safety during the Valentine Fire, and to protect assigned firefighting personnel engaging in wildland firefighting operations. Signs and gates will be in place to remind the public not to enter the fire area. Please visit the Alerts and Notices page for more information:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters, and the public are always the highest priority. Members of the public are asked to avoid the fire area. 

Smoke: The fire will produce considerable amounts of smoke due to excessive fuel accumulation. Smoke from the Valentine Fire may be visible in the surrounding areas for many days. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. An interactive smoke map available at, https://www.airnow.gov/wildfires/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Fire details:

• Size: 6,500 acres
• Start Date:  August 16, 2023
• Cause: Lightning
• Completion: 75%
• Total personnel: 198
• Location: 11 miles northeast of Young, Arizona and 27 miles east of Payson, Arizona
• Fuels: Ponderosa Pine, Hardwood litter and timber

Official fire information:
Tonto National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/tonto/fire
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/aztnf-valentine-fire
Fire Email: [email protected]
Fire Information Line (928) 421-4579
Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

A map of the Valentine fire September 24 2023.jpg

Yesterday, crews monitored progression of the fire along the ridge lines and perimeters. Today, crews will continue with aerial and hand ignitions along the southern edges of the fire. There will be moderate to heavy smoke, pushing to the northeast of the fire over the next week and smoke may push downslope and settle in the lower elevations overnight.

Operations: Yesterday, crews patrolled along the FSRD 411 and used hand ignitions to keep the fire’s edge even. Crews continued to monitor along the Chamberlin Trail Road (FSR 200) and looked for good access points along the southwestern perimeter as the fire progresses. Today, crews will continue with operations along the southern edge of the fire, making sure the line stays even along the ridges, drainages, and slopes. Crews will continue aerial ignition operations to increase the interior depth of the fire along Colcord Road (FSR 291), Chamberlin Trail Road (FSR 200), and FSRD 411.

Fire Ecology: One of the most impressive tree species within the Valentine fire are Alligator Junipers. They are named after their thick furrowed bark which resembles the scales on an alligators’ back. They are slow growing and often have multiple stems and evidence of fire. Their bark, high canopies, and ability to resprout from their roots are adaptations that have allowed them to thrive in a frequent fire environment. While they only grow up to about 65 feet they can be over seven feet wide, and live up to 1400 years!!! Additionally, they provide an important food source for many birds and mammals at times when other food is scarce.

Weather: Yesterday, there were winds coming out of the southwest along the ridge tops with the fire area seeing decreased humidity. Today will be dry with a chance of isolated showers, increased cloud cover, and cooler temperatures in the morning.

Closures: An emergency closure order for the Valentine Fire went into effect 6 a.m. Sept. 5, 2023. The public is asked to avoid the fire area. The purpose of the closure order is to protect public health and safety during the Valentine Fire, and to protect assigned firefighting personnel engaging in wildland firefighting operations. Signs and gates will be in place to remind the public not to enter the fire area. Please visit the Alerts and Notices page for more information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters, and the public are always the highest priority. Members of the public are asked to avoid the fire area. 

Smoke:  Smoke from the Valentine Fire may be visible in the surrounding areas for many days. Smoke will be heavier in the mornings as it settles into the lower elevations and will lift as temperatures increase.  Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Fire details:

• Size: 6,500 acres
• Start Date:  August 16, 2023
• Cause: Lightning
• Completion: 75%
• Total personnel: 201
• Location: 11 miles northeast of Young, Arizona and 27 miles east of Payson, Arizona
• Fuels: Ponderosa Pine, Hardwood litter and timber

Imortant fire information:

Tonto National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/tonto/fire
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/aztnf-valentine-fire
Fire Email: [email protected]
Fire Information Line (928) 421-4579
Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

A map of the Valentine fire September 23 2023.jpg

Fire managers are planning to implement the Pierce prescribed fire on the Black Mesa Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests starting September 26 and continuing through September 28.  The 3,044-acre prescribed fire is located 1.5 miles south of Heber-Overgaard off Forest Road 51.

The tentative date range for ignitions is Tuesday, Sept. 26 through Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. Hand and possibly aerial ignitions (helicopter with Plastic Sphere Dispenser machine) will be used during operations. Agency administrators must approve the day’s plan every 24 hours before ignitions on multi-day projects can continue.

Smoke will be visible from the town of Heber-Overgaard and surrounding communities. Potential smoke impacts to Heber-Overgaard and surrounding communities and AZ Highway 260 are possible. Air quality information is available at https://www.airnow.gov/.

Fire crews will be using Forest Road 51, Forest Road 166, Forest Road 125, Forest Road 124 for project boundaries. The Forest Service asks that the public please stay out of the project area during and after ignitions for the safety of the public and firefighters.

Fire crews are assessing fuels and weather conditions to determine whether the projects will begin. If environmental conditions are not appropriate (temperature, wind, humidity) the prescribed fire will be canceled.  Extra resources will be available and able to respond if needed until the prescribed fire is declared secure by the burn boss. The project area will be patrolled until the fire is out. Weather will continue to be monitored for any weather events that may require more resources.

Prescribed fires are an effective tool for restoring fire-dependent ecosystems and reducing the risk of high-severity wildfires. Fire managers use prescribed fire to improve forest health, remove hazardous fuels, increase firefighter safety, enhance wildlife habitat, and protect communities and watersheds. These efforts align with the Forest Service's 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to increase the use of fire on the landscape as well as other treatments to improve forest resiliency for generations to come.

Visit the A-S National Forests website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf  and follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs

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Significant moisture received over the past month has created ideal conditions to allow fuels reduction work to resume on the Kaibab National Forest using prescribed fire and pile burning methods as fall and winter approaches.

The Moonset Pit green waste disposal site near the community of Parks is scheduled to be ignited on Monday, September 25. Although this pile is usually burned in the winter months, fire managers elected to burn it now anticipating faster and more complete consumption, better smoke ventilation, and ultimately reducing the long lingering heat in the pit that usually occurs in the colder weather. Smoke production is expected to be minimal after the first few hours with rapid dispersion and shorter duration.

The Moonset Pit serves the local area providing a location for the disposal of natural forest debris. Moonset Pit is located just west of the Parks community on a dirt road east of Spitz Springs on the north side of old Route 66. The pit is scheduled to reopen for local use in the spring of 2024.

During operations, fire personnel and vehicles working in these areas will be visible to the public. Motorists are asked to avoid active hot areas and are reminded to use caution and drive with heightened awareness when passing through the project vicinity.

Our land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape. Prescribed fires help reduce hazardous fuels that have accumulated due to drought, climate change, insects and disease, and decades of fire suppression. Fire also recycles nutrients back to the soil, promotes the growth of trees, wildflowers, and other plants, and improves habitat for threatened and endangered species. These efforts align with the Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy which aims to increase prescribed fire and other treatments to improve forest resiliency for generations to come.

We recognize that smoke can impact residents, visitors, and our fire personnel. We will continue to coordinate closely with our partners and communities to minimize smoke impacts as much as possible. All prescribed fires on the Kaibab National Forest are subject to Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. The department’s Air Quality Division: Smoke Management webpage provides details about its air quality program.

Information can be found on the Kaibab NF website, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, or by calling the local ranger stations. 

 

Fire Managers on the Prescott National Forest plan to take advantage of current weather conditions and begin fall prescribed burning in the Prescott Basin on the Bradshaw Ranger District south of Prescott, Arizona.  Ignitions are planned to start on Monday, September 25, 2023, and will continue through October depending on weather conditions and resource availability. Several burns are planned east of Highway 89, west of Senator Highway, north of Wolf Creek Road, and south of Goldwater Lake on national forest lands.  Goldwater Lakes Trail #396 and Schoolhouse Gulch Trail #67 are in the Goldwater RX that’s planned to start on Monday, September 25, 2023; trail users should avoid these trails. Trail users can stay informed on daily prescribed fire activities and temporary trail closures by checking the Prescott National Forest website or following us on social media where daily information on current fire actives will be shared. 

Four prescribed burns are planned: Goldwater RX – approximately 1,162; Groom Creek RX - approximately 1,092; Ponderosa Park RX – approximately 1,012 acres; and the Indian Creek RX – approximately 1,121 acres (see attached map).

A variety of ground and aerial resources will be used to meet the project objectives. Expect smoke impacts to be light and visible from multiple locations including Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, and surrounding area communities.  As nighttime temperatures cool, smoke can 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.

Additionally, Fire Managers will be staffing an information booth where the public can stop by, look at maps, get current information on the burns, ask questions, and better understand what it means to live in a community with prescribed fire.  The information booth will be located on the east side of the Prescott Fire Department Station 71, 333 White Spar Road, Prescott, AZ on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. and again on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. 

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 reduce hazardous fuels in the wildland-urban interface and increases ecosystem and community resilience.  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, 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 and trail closures 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.

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Due to gusty winds, crews are monitoring the progression of the fire along the ridge lines and perimeters of the fire area.

Operations: Yesterday, due to the wind events, crews patrolled along the FSRD 411 and kept the fire’s edge even. More depth was added to FSRD 200 along with monitoring the edge. Today, crews will be patrolling and holding lines as the fire progresses toward the southern fire containment line.

Fire Ecology: “Fire severity” is a term used to describe fire effects. ‘High severity’ describes where more than 75% of the dominant vegetation was consumed by the fire. High severity can be beneficial (as in grasslands or chaparral), or destructive (large areas of high severity in ponderosa pine or mixed conifer). ‘Low severity’ is when less than 25% of the dominant vegetation is consumed. For the most part, ponderosa pine and dry mixed conifer benefit from mostly low-severity fire effects, though small patches of high severity are fine.

Weather: Yesterday, gusty winds came out of the southwest along the ridge tops with increasing clouds overnight. Today will be dry with a chance of isolated showers and winds will decrease along the ridge tops.

Closures: An emergency closure order for the Valentine Fire will go into effect 6 a.m. Sept. 5, 2023. The public is asked to avoid the fire area. The purpose of the closure order is to protect public health and safety during the Valentine Fire, and to protect assigned firefighting personnel engaging in wildland firefighting operations. Signs and gates will be in place to remind the public not to enter the fire area. Please visit the Alerts and Notices page for more information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters, and the public are always the highest priority. Members of the public are asked to avoid the fire area. 

Smoke: Smoke from the Valentine Fire may be visible in the surrounding areas for many days. Smoke will be heavier in the mornings as it settles into the lower elevations and will lift as temperatures increase.  Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Fire details:

• Size: 5,902 acres
• Start Date:  August 16, 2023
• Cause: Lightning
• Completion: 70%
• Total personnel: 158
• Location: 11 miles northeast of Young, Arizona and 27 miles east of Payson, Arizona
• Fuels: Ponderosa Pine, Hardwood litter and timber

Official fire information:
Tonto National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/tonto/fire
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/aztnf-valentine-fire
Fire Email: [email protected]
Fire Information Line: (928) 421-4579
Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

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Due to expected winds today, Crews will be scouting the existing road systems and terrain in the southwest perimeter to plan the best route to proceed when conditions improve.

Operations: Yesterday, crews performed ignitions along the south fire line to bring the fire toward FSRD 411 while north crews patrolled the fire line. Today, crews are scouting the terrain looking for the best options to bring the fire south and patrolling the fire edge during wind events. 

Fire Ecology: In recent years, scientists have been finding out that smoke has a lot of ecological benefits. For example, the germination of bearded penstemon and yarrow seeds can more than quadruple when there is smoke residue in the soil or on the seeds. Smoke can inhibit mistletoe and fungi, and it attracts or repels many insect species. In the past, Native American Tribes lit fires at times and in places where the smoke would be dense for long periods to shade streams; cooling the water for the benefit of salmon migrating upstream.

Weather: Yesterday was dry with some cloud cover in the morning and winds out of the southwest along the ridge tops. Today will be sunny with cloud cover expected at night. Variable and gusty winds will come from the south.

Closures: An emergency closure order for the Valentine Fire went into effect 6 a.m. Sept. 5, 2023. The public is asked to avoid the fire area. The purpose of the closure order is to protect public health and safety during the Valentine Fire, and to protect assigned firefighting personnel engaging in wildland firefighting operations. Signs and gates will be in place to remind the public not to enter the fire area. Please visit the Alerts and Notices page for more information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters, and the public are always the highest priority. Members of the public are asked to avoid the fire area. 

Smoke:  Smoke from the Valentine Fire may be visible in the surrounding areas for many days. Smoke will be heavier in the mornings as it settles into the lower elevations and will lift as temperatures increase.  Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Fire details:

• Size: 5,626 acres
• Start Date:  August 16, 2023
• Cause: Lightning
• Completion: 68%
• Total personnel: 177
• Location: 11 miles northeast of Young, Arizona and 27 miles east of Payson, Arizona
• Fuels: Ponderosa Pine, Hardwood litter and timber

Official fire information:
Tonto National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/tonto/fire
InciWeb:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/aztnf-valentine-fire
Fire Email: [email protected]
Fire Information Line (928) 421-4579
Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

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Fire managers and district rangers on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests are looking for appropriate conditions to implement prescribed fires during the fall and winter months.

Escalating wildfire danger is threatening millions of acres and numerous communities across the United States. To address this problem, the 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy was initiated in 2022 to treat up to an additional 20 million acres of National Forest System lands and an additional 30 million acres of other federal, state, tribal, and private lands. Our land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape.

The potential timing for our prescribed fires to be safely implemented is between September and December. Crews are assessing current weather conditions to make determinations on whether they are appropriate for prescribed fire activity.

Individual news releases for each prescribed fire will be distributed in advance and as fire managers and district rangers narrow down the date for ignitions for each prescribed fire based upon onsite conditions. If fuel moisture, temperature, wind, or humidity are not within the burn plan prescription, the project will be canceled.

The list of potential projects follows:

Ranger District: Alpine Ranger District

• WE Little RX (2,445 acres) – 1 mile east of Alpine and north of Luna Lake
• Nutri 2 RX (1,159 acres) – 4.5 miles southwest of Nutrioso
• Alpine District Piles – ELC (2,500 acres) – 6.5 miles north of Alpine
• Ranger District: Black Mesa Ranger District
• Carr Lake/Alder (2,145 acres) – 8 miles west of Forest Lakes
• Pierce (3,044 acres) – 2 miles south of Heber-Overgaard
• Fulton (1,738 acres) – 4 miles west of Forest Lakes
• Sinkhole (875 acres) – 4 miles west of Forest Lakes

Ranger District: Clifton Ranger District

•  EEMS Phase 1 Block C (12,008 acres) – Southwest of Blue Vista Overlook

Ranger District: Springerville Ranger District

• Whiting Rx (1,980 acres) – 4 miles north of Greens Peak
• Wallow West Rx Unit 3 (4,782 acres) – 2 miles southeast of Greer
• Pole Knoll Rx (2,020 acres) – 2 miles northwest of Greer

Ranger District: Lakeside Ranger District

• Doyle (368 acres) – 1 mile southwest of Vernon
• Dipping Vat (1,209 acres) – 1 mile southwest of Vernon
• Mud Springs (1,829 acres) – 1 mile southwest of Vernon
• Ortega (1,900 acres) – 1 mile southwest of Vernon
• 260 (696 acres) – 1 mile west of Linden
• Bear (1,321 acres) – 2 miles south of Pinedale
• Red Head Marsh/Bosque Mojado (50 acres) – 3 miles north of Show Low

All prescribed fires planned and implemented on the A-S will incorporate the guidance in the Forest Service Chief’s National Prescribed Fire Program Review, including using the most recent science and modeling, ensuring contingency resources are more readily available, integrating drought monitoring, increasing patrols, and completing a daily go/ no-go evaluation of conditions.

A final decision on whether to proceed with a specific prescribed fire will depend on agency administrator approval, resource availability, fuel moisture levels, air quality and forecast weather. Prescribed fires are designed to meet specific objectives and are always managed with firefighter and public safety as the priority.

Prescribed fires are an effective tool for restoring fire-dependent ecosystems and reducing the risk of high-severity wildfires. Fire managers use prescribed fire to improve forest health, remove hazardous fuels, increase firefighter safety, enhance wildlife habitat, and protect communities and watersheds.

Air quality information is available at https://www.airnow.gov/

Further information will be provided as it becomes available. Visit the A-S National Forests website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf  and follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs

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Fire managers on the Kaibab National Forest are planning to conduct prescribed fires throughout the fall and winter seasons as conditions allow.

Crews plan to begin ignitions the first week of October, with a potential total of up to 25,413 acres planned on the Williams Ranger District, up to 13,313 acres on the Tusayan Ranger District, and up to 16,579 acres on the North Kaibab Ranger District over the course of the fall and winter months. Smoke may be visible in the vicinity of the prescribed fire locations.

Exact ignition dates are unknown as burning is dependent upon daily agency administrator approval and conditions within the ranges outlined in each prescribed fire plan. However, we are committed to providing the public with ongoing updates and as much advance notice as possible. Sign up to receive Kaibab NF news releases in your email.

Our land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape. Prescribed fires help reduce hazardous fuels that have accumulated due to drought, climate change, insects and disease, and decades of fire suppression. Fire also recycles nutrients back to the soil, promotes the growth of trees, wildflowers, and other plants, and improves habitat for threatened and endangered species. These efforts align with the Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy which aims to increase prescribed fire and other treatments to improve forest resiliency for generations to come.

We recognize that smoke can impact residents, visitors, and our fire personnel. We will continue to coordinate closely with our partners and communities to minimize smoke impacts as much as possible. All prescribed fires on the Kaibab National Forest are subject to Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. The department’s Air Quality Division: Smoke Management webpage provides details about its air quality program.

Information can be found on the Kaibab NF website, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, or by calling the local ranger stations. 

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Warmer weather has aided firefighting efforts along the southern and western borders of the Valentine Fire, with tactical firing operations making substantial progress. Wednesday, crews will focus on further ignitions along the west side and continued monitoring of the fire's interior.

Operations: Yesterday, conditions allowed crews to continue hand and aerial ignitions on the south perimeter along FSRD 411 moving towards FSRD 200. Tactical firing operations continued down Chamberlain Trail (FSRD 200) on the west perimeter towards the FSRD 848, making good progress. Today, crews will continue with hand and aerial ignitions on the west side along the Chamberlin Trail Road (FSRD 200). Crews will continue monitoring the fire within the interior along the ridgelines and drainages.

Fire Ecology: A unique species growing in the vicinity of the Valentine fire is Chihuahuan pine. Chihuahuan pine has many fire adaptations and fire-associated regeneration strategies. After a fire, it regenerates by producing abundant seeds that are dropped from serotinous cones to the newly burned forest floor. It’s protected from fire by thick bark and, even when the crowns burn, it has the ability to send out new shoots to regrow. Fire may even allow Chihuahuan pine to become more dominant by eliminating less fire tolerant species.

Weather: On Tuesday, temperatures were in the mid 70’s with winds out of the southwest. Wednesday’s forecast calls for temperatures hovering around 75 degrees with variable winds out of the southwest.

Closures: An emergency closure order for the Valentine Fire will go into effect 6 a.m. Sept. 5, 2023. The public is asked to avoid the fire area. The purpose of the closure order is to protect public health and safety during the Valentine Fire, and to protect assigned firefighting personnel engaging in wildland firefighting operations. Signs and gates will be in place to remind the public not to enter the fire area. Please visit the Alerts and Notices page for more information.  https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters, and the public are always the highest priority. Members of the public are asked to avoid the fire area. 

Smoke:  Smoke from the Valentine Fire may be visible in the surrounding areas for many days. Smoke will be heavier in the mornings as it settles into the lower elevations and will lift as temperatures increase.  Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Fire details

• Size: 5,300 acres
• Start Date:  August 16, 2023
• Cause: Lightning
• Completion: 66%
• Total personnel: 173
• Location: 11 miles northeast of Young, Arizona and 27 miles east of Payson, Arizona

Information Links and Contacts:

Tonto National Forest  https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/tonto/fire

InciWeb   https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/aztnf-valentine-fire

Fire Email [email protected]

Fire Information Line (928) 421-4579 • Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

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Yesterday, crews were able to complete firing operations along constructed holding features on the north portion of the fire. Impacts from smoke are expected through the week and visible from multiple locations. As temperatures cool overnight smoke may linger in drainages and valleys until daytime winds surface.

Operations: Monday, firefighters on the northwest perimeter conducted hand ignition operations, tying in the north and west fire edges along Chamberlain Trail Road (FSRD 200). Today, firefighters will continue to work down the drainages from north to south towards Clay Springs Road (FSRD 411) building depth and keeping an even line of completion. Crews will also continue firing operations to connect the fire’s edge down the Chamberlain Trail (FSRD 200) to the FSRD 848.

Fire Ecology: Serotinous cones have adapted to fire and use it to spread their seeds. These cones are closed tight around their seeds and are glued shut with a resin. When the cone is heated, it opens up and the seeds drop to the forest floor. Most of the ground cover will have been consumed, so the seed has good contact with the soil, as well as extra nutrients from the

Fire details

• Size: 4,614 acres
• Start Date:  August 16, 2023
• Cause: Lightning
• Completion: 61%
• Total personnel: 178
• Location: 11 miles northeast of Young, Arizona and 27 miles east of Payson, Arizona
• Fuels: Ponderosa Pine, Hardwood litter and timber

Official fire information:

• Tonto National Forest  https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/tonto/fire
• InciWeb   https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/aztnf-valentine-fire
• Fire Email [email protected]
• Fire Information Line (928) 421-4579
• Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

The Bureau of Land Management’s Phoenix District is planning prescribed burning operations to burn cut and piled brush from public lands west of Lake Pleasant. Burning may occur over multiple days in September as conditions allow. Crews will burn one acre of piles on the west side of Lake Pleasant, about three miles north of State Route 74.   

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].