Arizona Emergency Information Network

Prescribed burning is continuing on the Williams Ranger District resuming Monday October 14 on the Marteen Rx Fire Project located north of Spring Valley, west of forest road 144, and east of Laws Spring.

Fire managers have divided the eastern portion of this project into three smaller units and are hopeful to complete all 5013 acres scheduled for treatment this week in approximately 3 days.

Weather conditions often influence the actual times when ignitions occur and occasionally delay operations, however managers recognize that some community members are sensitive to smoke and will use strategies to limit the amount and duration. This includes dividing large projects into smaller units so that crews can focus efforts where and when conditions will help smoke disperse away from developed areas and ventilate quicker, reducing the impacts to local residents and businesses. Prescribed fires with shorter-term impacts to air quality help significantly reduce the risks to public health and safety.

Area residents and visitors can expect to see and hear a helicopter in these area, as aerial ignitions will occur on portions of the burn. Aerial-drone systems should not be used near the active project area, as they could interfere with aircraft operations.

Smoke will be visible to residents in the Spring Valley area and may be noticeable from Parks, Valle, portions of State Route 64, Highway 180, and Interstate 40. Smoke is expected to lift during the day and travel northeast away from developed areas adjacent to this burn, however cooler overnight temperatures may cause smoke to settle into low-lying areas surrounding the burn location. Smoke generally lifts rapidly in the mornings upon surface warming from direct sunlight.

Weather permitting, another 2922 acres on the western portion of this project may begin following the completion of this weeks scheduled treatments.

No road or trail closures are planned as part of these prescribed fire operations however, fire personnel and vehicles will be visible to the public at these locations. Motorists are reminded to use caution and drive with heightened awareness when passing through active project areas.

Goals of prescribed fire treatments include decreasing the threat of unnatural severe wildfire and potential negative consequences to the community, improving forest health, and reintroducing fire to an ecosystem that relies on frequent fire to maintain resilience. 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.

Our land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape. 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.

All prescribed fires are subject to approval by an agency administrator and by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. The department’s Air Quality Division: Smoke Management webpage provides details about its air quality program.

The Kaibab National Forest remains committed to providing the public with ongoing updates with as much advance notice as possible. Sign up to receive Kaibab NF news releases in your email.

Additional information can be found on the Kaibab NF website, X, Facebook, Flickr, or by calling or local ranger stations.

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The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Ozone High Pollution Advisory (HPA) for Friday, October 11, 2024.

Take Action

• Drive less, carpool, use public transit, or telecommute. For information on transportation alternatives, visit ShareTheRide.com.
• Fuel your vehicle after dark or during cooler evening hours.
• Reduce wait time in long drive-thru lines. Park your vehicle and walk inside at coffee shops, fast-food restaurants, curbside pick-up, and banks.
• Use low-VOCs (volatile organic compounds) or water-based paints, stains, finishes, and paint strippers.
• Delay large painting projects until HPAs have passed.
• Properly seal containers of household cleaners, garage and yard chemicals, and other solvents to prevent vapors from evaporating into the air.
• Eliminate wood burning in fireplaces, stoves, chimeneas, and outdoor fire pits.
• Avoid using leaf blowers. Use a rake or broom to keep debris out of the road and away from storm drains, ditches, and streams.
• Conserve electricity.

HPA Restrictions

• Wood burning in residential fireplaces, chimeneas, outdoor fire pits, and similar outdoor fires is prohibited in Maricopa County. This includes individuals and businesses which have burn permits for open burning.
• Employees and contractors of government entities are prohibited from operating leaf blowers. Residents are encouraged to avoid leaf blowing.
• Off-highway vehicles are prohibited from being used.

Transportation Coordinators

Due to unhealthy levels of particulate matter, all Transportation Coordinators are requested to email employees and activate your HPA plans. The department encourages the use of alternative modes of transportation, especially when pollution levels are expected to be on the rise.

Ozone: Ground level ozone is formed by a chemical reaction that needs heat from sunlight, nitrogen oxides and VOCs to form. The months of April through September make up our Valley’s longer-than-normal "ozone season."

"High Pollution Advisory" or "HPA" means the highest concentration of pollution may exceed the federal health standard. Active children, adults, and people with lung disease such as asthma should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Ozone High Pollution Advisory (HPA) for Thursday, October 10, 2024.

Take Action

• Drive less, carpool, use public transit, or telecommute. For information on transportation alternatives, visit ShareTheRide.com.
• Fuel your vehicle after dark or during cooler evening hours.
• Reduce wait time in long drive-thru lines. Park your vehicle and walk inside at coffee shops, fast-food restaurants, curbside pick-up, and banks.
• Use low-VOCs (volatile organic compounds) or water-based paints, stains, finishes, and paint strippers.
• Delay large painting projects until HPAs have passed.
• Properly seal containers of household cleaners, garage and yard chemicals, and other solvents to prevent vapors from evaporating into the air. Eliminate wood burning in fireplaces, stoves, chimeneas, and outdoor fire pits.
• Avoid using leaf blowers. Use a rake or broom to keep debris out of the road and away from storm drains, ditches, and streams.
• Conserve electricity.

HPA Restrictions

• Wood burning in residential fireplaces, chimeneas, outdoor fire pits, and similar outdoor fires is prohibited in Maricopa County. This includes individuals and businesses which have burn permits for open burning.
• Employees and contractors of government entities are prohibited from operating leaf blowers. Residents are encouraged to avoid leaf blowing.
• Off-highway vehicles are prohibited from being used.

Transportation Coordinators

Due to unhealthy levels of particulate matter, all Transportation Coordinators are requested to email employees and activate your HPA plans. The department encourages the use of alternative modes of transportation, especially when pollution levels are expected to be on the rise.

Ozone: Ground level ozone is formed by a chemical reaction that needs heat from sunlight, nitrogen oxides and VOCs to form. The months of April through September make up our Valley’s longer-than-normal "ozone season."

"High Pollution Advisory" or "HPA" means the highest concentration of pollution may exceed the federal health standard. Active children, adults, and people with lung disease such as asthma should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.

Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to certain private nonprofit organizations in the San Carlos Apache Tribe following President Biden’s federal disaster declaration for Public Assistance as a result of the Watch Fire that occurred from July 10-17, announced Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Private nonprofits that provide essential services of a governmental nature are eligible for assistance.

“Private nonprofit organizations should contact the San Carlos Apache Tribe by calling (928) 475-1600 or visiting https://www.scat-nsn.gov to obtain information about applicant briefings,” said Francisco Sánchez Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration. “At the briefings, private nonprofit representatives will need to provide information about their organization,” continued Sánchez. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will use that information to determine if the private nonprofit provides an “essential governmental service” and is a “critical facility” as defined by law. FEMA may provide the private nonprofit with a Public Assistance grant for their eligible costs. SBA encourages all private nonprofit organizations to apply with SBA for disaster loan assistance.

SBA may lend private nonprofits up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

For certain private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help with meeting working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the nonprofit suffered any property damage.

“SBA’s disaster loan program offers an important advantage–the chance to incorporate measures that can reduce the risk of future damage,” Sánchez added. “Work with contractors and mitigation professionals to strengthen your property and take advantage of the opportunity to request additional SBA disaster loan funds for these proactive improvements.”

The interest rate is 3.25 percent with terms up to 30 years. The deadline to apply for property damage is Dec. 3, 2024. The deadline to apply for economic injury is July 7, 2025.

Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.

Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Ozone High Pollution Advisory (HPA) for Tuesday, October 8 and Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Take Action

• Drive less, carpool, use public transit, or telecommute. For information on transportation alternatives, visit ShareTheRide.com.
• Fuel your vehicle after dark or during cooler evening hours.
• Reduce wait time in long drive-thru lines. Park your vehicle and walk inside at coffee shops, fast-food restaurants, curbside pick-up, and banks.
• Use low-VOCs (volatile organic compounds) or water-based paints, stains, finishes, and paint strippers.
• Delay large painting projects until HPAs have passed.
• Properly seal containers of household cleaners, garage and yard chemicals, and other solvents to prevent vapors from evaporating into the air. Eliminate wood burning in fireplaces, stoves, chimeneas, and outdoor fire pits.
• Avoid using leaf blowers. Use a rake or broom to keep debris out of the road and away from storm drains, ditches, and streams.
• Conserve electricity.

HPA Restrictions

• Wood burning in residential fireplaces, chimeneas, outdoor fire pits, and similar outdoor fires is prohibited in Maricopa County. This includes individuals and businesses which have burn permits for open burning.
• Employees and contractors of government entities are prohibited from operating leaf blowers. Residents are encouraged to avoid leaf blowing.
• Off-highway vehicles are prohibited from being used.

Transportation Coordinators

Due to unhealthy levels of particulate matter, all Transportation Coordinators are requested to email employees and activate your HPA plans. The department encourages the use of alternative modes of transportation, especially when pollution levels are expected to be on the rise.

Ozone: Ground level ozone is formed by a chemical reaction that needs heat from sunlight, nitrogen oxides and VOCs to form. The months of April through September make up our Valley’s longer-than-normal "ozone season."

"High Pollution Advisory" or "HPA" means the highest concentration of pollution may exceed the federal health standard. Active children, adults, and people with lung disease such as asthma should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.

Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to San Carlos Apache Tribe businesses and residents as a result of President Biden’s major disaster declaration, U.S. Small Business Administration’s Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced.

The declaration covers the San Carlos Apache Tribe as a result of the Watch Fire that occurred July 10-17.

“SBA’s mission-driven team stands ready to help Arizona’s small businesses and residents impacted by the Watch Fire,” said Administrator Guzman. “We’re committed to providing federal disaster loans swiftly and efficiently, with a customer-centric approach to help businesses and communities recover and rebuild.”

Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available to businesses regardless of any property damage.

“SBA’s disaster loan program offers an important advantage–the chance to incorporate measures that can reduce the risk of future damage,” said Francisco Sánchez, Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration. “Work with contractors and mitigation professionals to strengthen your property and take advantage of the opportunity to request additional SBA disaster loan funds for these proactive improvements.”

Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, including personal vehicles.

Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 3.25 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 2.688 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.

As soon as Federal-State Disaster Recovery Centers open throughout the affected area, SBA will provide one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants. Additional information and details on the location of disaster recovery centers is available by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955.

Fire managers have successfully treated 6904 acres on Tusayan Ranger District last week completing the Blue Stem Rx Fire Project and are moving back to the Three Sisters Prescribed Fire Project located just north of the City of Williams and Interstate 40, south of forest road 124, between Airport Road and the west side of Highway 64. 

Improving weather conditions have re-opened the opportunity for crews to return working in the local areas near Williams and Spring Valley. Plans are in place to begin ignitions on approximately 1500 acres of the Pronghorn and Cataract units of Three Sisters project on Tuesday October 8, and then move to the 4200 acre Marteen East Rx Fire Project later this same week. This project is located north of Spring Valley, west of forest road 144, and east of Laws Spring.

Area residents and visitors can expect to see and hear a helicopter in these area, as aerial ignitions will occur on portions of the burn. Aerial-drone systems should not be used near the active project area, as they could interfere with aircraft operations.

Smoke will be highly noticeable from the Williams area, particularly the Country Club / Elephant Rocks Golf Course, H.A. Clark Memorial Field Airport, Cataract Lake Park, Kaibab Lake, Ash Fork, Valle, Parks, Spring Valley, portions of State Route 64 and I-40. Smoke is expected to lift during the day and travel northeast away from developed areas adjacent to these burns, however cooler overnight temperatures may cause smoke to settle into low-lying areas surrounding the burn location.

No road or trail closures are planned as part of these prescribed fire operations however, fire personnel and vehicles will be visible to the public at these locations. Motorists are reminded to use caution and drive with heightened awareness when passing through active project areas.

The Pine Flat Rx Fire Project is also scheduled to receive treatments this fall and could potentially see activity as early as the weekend ahead. This project is located on the south end of the Williams Ranger District, east of forest road 354, and west of Round Mountain.

Fire managers recognize that community members may be sensitive to smoke, and use strategies to limit the amount and duration. This includes dividing large projects into smaller units so that crews can focus efforts where and when conditions will help smoke disperse away from developed areas and ventilate quicker, reducing the impacts to local residents and businesses. Prescribed fires with shorter-term impacts to air quality help significantly reduce the risks to public health and safety.

Goals of prescribed fire treatments include decreasing the threat of unnatural severe wildfire and potential negative consequences to the community, improving forest health, and reintroducing fire to an ecosystem that relies on frequent fire to maintain resilience. 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. Our land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape. 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.

All prescribed fires are subject to approval by an agency administrator and by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. The department’s Air Quality Division: Smoke Management webpage provides details about its air quality program.

To learn more about smoke and public health, visit bit.ly/SmokeHealthAwareness.

The Kaibab National Forest remains committed to providing the public with ongoing updates with as much advance notice as possible. Sign up to receive Kaibab NF news releases in your email.

Additional information can be found on the Kaibab NF website, X, Facebook, Flickr, or by calling or local ranger stations.

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A map of the Marteen Prescribed Fire Project on October 7 2024.jpg

The Coconino National Forest plans to continue work on several prescribed burn projects this week that will help restore healthier conditions to the fire-adapted ponderosa pine forests of northern Arizona.

Prescribed burns will be canceled if weather conditions – such as temperature, wind or humidity – do not meet the criteria outlined in the burn plans.

Blue Ridge Urban Interface
When: Ongoing since Oct. 2
Where: Located on the Mogollon Rim Ranger District, roughly 9 miles northeast of Clints Well. A project map is available online.
Why: This prescribed burn will reduce fuel loading around the communities of Blue Ridge, thus lessening the risk of catastrophic unplanned wildfire during times of critical fire weather. This project also reintroduces fire into a fire-adapted ecosystem.
Size: 7,000 acres
Method/Type of Burn: Broadcast maintenance burn.
Duration: This project began on Oct. 2 and is anticipated to last a total of roughly three weeks. Ignitions will occur sporadically during the project timeline.
Smoke Impacts: Smoke is expected to travel to the north and northeast and will be highly noticeable from nearby areas such as Jack’s Canyon, Little Springs Canyon and on state Route 87.
Closures/Restrictions: No formal closure orders will be issued, but Arizona Trail hikers will be asked to follow a posted re-route to avoid hazardous areas.

A map of the Blue Ridge Urban Interface prescribed burn on October 7 2024.jpg

Kendrick/ Horseshoe
Date: Oct. 8
Duration: 2 days
Location: 17.5 miles northwest of Flagstaff near Kendrick Park.
Size: 3,471 acres total (comprised of four sections/blocks).
Type of burn: Maintenance, broadcast burn. Maintenance burns usually mean wildfire has recently been through the area, which tends to mean less smoke since forest fuels will not be as thick or built up over time. Broadcast burning means firefighters will spread the fire across the landscape using drip torches, effectively 'broadcasting' the fire with low intensity across the landscape.
Smoke impacts: Smoke is expected to disperse to the northeast and will impact U.S. Route 180 with possible light impacts to Doney Park and moderate impacts to Kendrick Park overnight. As the burn continues, smoke along Route 180 is expected to decrease as firing moves further to the west. Moderate to heavy smoke impacts can be expected overnight on Route 180 during the burn as smoke settles.
Why: This prescribed burn will reduce fuel loading in areas west of Kendrick Park, thus lessening the risk of catastrophic unplanned wildfire during times of critical fire weather and very windy conditions, which is common in the Kendrick Park area. This also helps keep extreme wildfire from possibly moving onto the San Francisco Peaks as well as reintroduces fire into a fire-adapted ecosystem.
Notes: There are no closures expected with this burn.

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Sawmill
Tentative date: Oct. 9
Duration: This burn will run intermittently through November 22.
Location: 19.5 miles east/southeast of Munds Park.
Size: 2,581 acres total (comprised of two sections/blocks).
Type of burn: Initial entry, broadcast burn. Initial entry burns mean fire has not been on the landscape any time recently, which results in a buildup of forest fuels such as pinecones, pine needles, dead and down trees, etc. This will result in thicker smoke when compared to a maintenance burn due to the density of forest fuels being burned. Broadcast burning means firefighters will spread the fire across the landscape using drip torches, effectively 'broadcasting' the fire with low intensity across the landscape. 
Smoke impacts: No major smoke impacts are expected. Smoke will settle in flat areas north and east of the burn. However, smoke may be noticed from Interstate 40, Twin Arrows and Winslow.
Why: This project will reduce hazardous fuel loading and return fire to a fire-adapted ecosystem.
Notes: It is unlikely that firing operations will occur on the Sawmill project prior to Oct. 21. However, fire managers may shift operations from a different project to Sawmill to reduce smoke impacts on the Verde Valley.
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UBC (Upper Beaver Creek) 2
Tentative date: Oct. 9
Duration: Through Nov. 22.
Location: 16 miles southeast of Munds Park, near Stoneman Lake. 
Size: 16,406 acres total (comprised of eight sections/blocks).
Type of burn: Initial entry, broadcast burn. Initial entry burns mean fire has not been on the landscape any time recently, which results in a buildup of forest fuels such as pinecones, pine needles, dead and down trees, etc. This will result in thicker smoke when compared to a maintenance burn due to the density of forest fuels being burned. Broadcast burning means firefighters will spread the fire across the landscape using drip torches, effectively 'broadcasting' the fire with low intensity across the landscape. 
Smoke impacts: Smoke is expected to travel to the north and east and will potentially impact Lake Mary Road. Smoke will likely drain west toward the Verde Valley and Interstate 17.
Why: This prescribed burn will reduce hazardous fuels such as downed trees and decaying plant matter in the project area. It will also return fire to a fire-adapted ecosystem.
Notes: There are no closures anticipated with this project.
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Peaks (Horseshoe)
Tentative date: Oct. 10 or Oct. 11
Duration: One to three days.
Location: 15 miles north/northwest of Flagstaff, just south of Kendrick Park.
Size: 1,050 acres total (comprised of two sections/blocks).
Type of burn: Maintenance, broadcast burn. Maintenance burns usually mean wildfire has recently been through the area, which tends to mean less smoke since forest fuels will not be as thick or built up over time. Broadcast burning means firefighters will spread the fire across the landscape using drip torches, effectively 'broadcasting' the fire with low intensity across the landscape.
Smoke impacts: Smoke will be highly noticeable from the Flagstaff area. There will be possible smoke impacts to U.S. Route 180 and the communities in and around Kendrick Park.
Why: This fire will reduce heavy dead and down fuels leftover from the 1996 Hochderffer Fire. It will also work to safeguard the Kendrick Park communities from future unwanted catastrophic wildfire.
Notes: There are no planned closures associated with this project.
A map of the Peaks Horseshoe prescribed burn on October 7 2024.jpg
Prescribed burn information can always be accessed in several ways:

• Via InciWeb at inciweb.wildfire.gov. All projects will be detailed on the “Coconino National Forest 2024 Fall Prescribed Burn Season – AZCOF” page.
• On Twitter at @CoconinoNF
• On Facebook - search "U.S. Forest Service - Coconino National Forest"
• Via news releases. Subscribe to Coconino National Forest news releases by visiting coconinonationalforest.us, and then clicking the "Get News Via Email" link under the "Stay Connected" header

Prescribed burns are always dependent upon weather and wind conditions, as well as approval from Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). The public can view approved prescribed burns on ADEQ’s website at smoke.azdeq.gov. Coconino NF burns begin with the designator “COF.”

During prescribed burns, smoke will be visible from several areas across the forest. Please refrain from contacting dispatch or 911 to report prescribed burn smoke so lines can remain open for emergencies.

The Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy aims to increase prescribed burning and other treatments across the landscape to improve forest resiliency for generations to come. With that work comes more smoke which can have an impact on both the public and our responders. 

We recognize that smoke impacts can affect residents and visitors in addition to our fire personnel. We will continue to coordinate closely with partners and communities to keep people informed about projects and potential smoke. Affected communities can learn more at airnow.gov.

Prior to conducting prescribed burns, the Coconino NF follows steps outlined in the agency-wide National Prescribed Fire Review. These steps include items such as validating and updating prescribed burn plans with the most recent science and modeling, incorporating new drought monitoring data, ensuring the patrol plan and long-term patrol strategy is documented and communicating with and involving landowners, cooperators, elected officials and partners as we implement prescribed fires.

Prescribed burns are an important part of maintaining forest health. For more information on why prescribed burns are conducted and how they benefit the landscape and help protect communities, please visit our Prescribed Fire and Forest Health webpage.

Fire managers on the Chino Valley Ranger District are looking for opportunities to treat fuels across the district at several locations in the Chino Landscape Project Area (see the map below). Prescribed fire operations are planned to start as early as Tuesday, October 8th, 2024, and continue through Friday, October 31st, 2024. Fire managers plan to use a variety of ground and aerial resources to meet the project objectives. Expect smoke impacts to be light to moderate and visible from multiple locations including Chino Valley, Paulden, Prescott and surrounding area communities.

Fire managers understand that to continue to improve landscape resiliency prescribed fires must be planned in advance and implemented during the appropriate conditions to obtain the most positive outcomes. The nature of the restoration and hazardous fuels reduction objectives required for these prescribed burns include drier conditions, prescribed burns below will not be implemented concurrently or in order listed.

Peavine Tank RX (T18N, R1W, Sec 1,2,11,12,13,14) – is a 1,396-acre burn north of Chino Valley and west of Highway 89. Vegetation is primarily grass with small areas of brush and juniper encroachment.

Page Flat RX (T18N, R1W, Sec 22,23,26,27) is a 5,839-acre burn north of Chino Valley and east of Highway 89.  Vegetation is comprised of primarily grass juniper and residual slash from previous grassland restoration projects.

Wagon Tire (North) RX (T19N, 1W, Sec 16,17,21,22. T18N, R1W, Sec 32,33) is a 1005-acre broadcast burn located east of Highway 89, north of Chino Valley near Drake. Vegetation is scattered juniper and grass. Smoke will be visible in the immediate areas of the burn activity including Highway 89. It is possible that there could be minor delays on Highway 89.

The objective of these prescribed burns is to improve native vegetation conditions by reducing shrub and juniper fuel loading while also enhancing grasslands restoration. The prescribed burn plan criteria for this project includes hot, dry conditions that are necessary to stimulate grass growth and reduce encroaching juniper trees. Fire managers are closely monitoring weather and fuels conditions with equal attention to the wildfire activity and firefighting resources on the Prescott National Forest as well the resource availability of nearby wildland fire partner agencies.

Prescribed fires on National Forest System land may only be implemented when the conditions at the project site meet the objectives and criteria outlined in the prescribed burn plan. These criteria include acceptable ranges for wind, humidity, fuel moisture and temperature to name a few. If any of the conditions are outside the prescription, the prescribed fire will not be implemented. The Forest Service is fully committed to using this critical tool safely and effectively in collaboration with the tribes, partners, and the community.

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 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/
Twitter https://twitter.com/PrescottNF

For fire information please call (928) 777-2200; 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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Firefighters plan to continue prescribed fire operations on the Black Mesa Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests beginning October 8 through December 31, 2024, as weather and vegetation conditions allow for successful operations.    

The Rimtop project area is 1,286 acres and is 9 miles west of the community of Forest Lakes.  The project area is bounded by Forest Roads 195, 105, 9350, and constructed control lines. Trails around Woods Canyon Lake will also be used as a control line.

The Sinkhole project area is 875 acres and is 4 miles west on Forest Road 51 from the community of Forest Lakes. The project area is bounded by Forest Roads 235, 9503C, and Highway 260. Willow Springs Lake will also be used as a control line.

The Brookbank project area is 1,758 acres and is approximately 1 mile east of Forest Lakes.  The project is bounded by Forest Roads 122, 174, and Highway 260.  

The Hidden 2 project area is 348 acres and is approximately 2 miles west of the community of Forest Lakes along and north of Highway 260. This is the continuation of the Hidden timber stand improvement/fuels reduction treatment in the area. 

The objective is to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations, minimize the risk of high-severity wildfires, and return the landscape to a more fire-resistant condition, aligning with the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy. The Forest Service's 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to reduce wildfire risk to people, communities, and natural resources while sustaining and restoring healthy, resilient fire-adapted forests. 

Smoke is expected to be visible from the communities of Forest Lakes and Heber-Overgaard, and Highway 260. 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 Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests are subject to Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. The department’s Air Quality Division: Smoke Management webpage provides details about its air quality program. When smoke impacts are present, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality recommends that smoke sensitive individuals should reduce physical activity and stay indoors with windows and doors closed. For those who are unable to avoid smoke exposure, use of a particulate-filtering respirator mask can help. Real-time mapping of smoke and other air quality impacts is available at fire.airnow.gov.

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

Beginning October 8, National Park Service and USDA Forest Service fire managers, working together as the North Zone Interagency Fire Management Program, anticipate initiating prescribed burns on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Fire managers will be assessing weather, fuel moistures, and other conditions for opportunities to conduct burns safely and effectively into December.

Units targeted for spring burning are along Highway 67 near Jacob Lake, west of the Telephone Hills area, and in the vicinity of Demotte, and southwest of Forest Road 22 on the North Kaibab Ranger District, and along Highway 67 near the North Rim Developed area and the Cape Royal area within Grand Canyon National Park.

Prescribed fire smoke from will be most visible during ignition operations and will likely gradually diminish after ignitions are completed. Smoke may be visible along Highways 89A and 67 as well as from various locations on the North Rim and South Rim. The Cape Royal Road will be closed from October 14 to 18. After this closure, drivers using the Cape Royal Road are advised to proceed slowly with their headlights on, avoid stopping in areas where fire personnel are working, and follow all posted signs and directions from staff. While no road closures are anticipated beyond these dates, traffic control measures or one-way traffic may be implemented if smoke impacts create unsafe driving conditions.

Smoke is expected in the canyon, one to three days after each ignition. Fire managers are working with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality- Smoke Management Division to reduce and mitigate potential smoke impacts.

Fire managers plan to treat a total of 25,371 acres on the North Kaibab Ranger District and 4,347 acres on Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim with broadcast burning, targeting light surface fuels and downed woody debris composed of logs, twigs, and stems. These types of prescribed fires are important for removing forest floor fuels which are the primary carriers of fire during wildfire events. Weather conditions and outlooks play a key role in the success of prescribed fire implementation and fire managers are working closely with National Weather Service forecasters prior to prescribed fire implementation.

Prescribed fires play an important role in decreasing risks to life, resources, and property. Fire managers carefully plan prescribed fires, initiating them only under environmental conditions that are favorable firefighter and visitor safety and to achieving the desired objectives. Prescribed fire objectives include reducing accumulations of hazard fuels, maintaining the natural role of fire in a fire- adapted ecosystem, and protection of sensitive cultural and natural resources.

Plans for each burn unit contain a set of parameters which define the desired weather and fuel conditions under which a prescribed fire can be initiated. 

A map of the North Kaibab Fall 2024 Prescribed Fire.jpg
A map of the North Rim Fall 2024 Prescribed Fire.jpg
A map of the Atoko and Cape Final Fall 2024 Prescribed Fire Operations.jpg

Resources are responding to the Hollow Fire, a roughly 1.5-acre wildfire located in the Schultz Pass area 5 miles north of Flagstaff.

Resources responding to the incident include two engines.

Firefighters are currently working to suppress the fire using adjacent trail systems as holding features.

Forest visitors are asked to avoid roads and trails located near the fire as a matter of both public and firefighter safety.

The fire is moving at a low rate of spread through pine timber and needle cast.

The fire was first reported at roughly 3 p.m. Oct. 3, and its cause is under investigation.

The Lakeside Ranger District plans to conduct prescribed fire operations on the Lakeside Ranger District during the Fall months of 2024. Prescribed fire operations could start any time between October 8 through November 30, as weather and vegetation conditions allow for successful operations. Fire managers will be monitoring weather conditions leading up to, during, and after implementation to ensure conditions are favorable.

The Lakeside East burn units consist of the Doyle burn unit (290 acres), and the Ortega burn unit (1,773 acres).  Both are located directly to the southwest of Vernon, AZ.  The unit boundaries are along Forest Road 44, Forest Road 3D, Forest Road 45E, Forest Road 45C3, and Forest Road 9900L. 

This landscape treatment is a cooperative effort with Arizona Game and Fish, Vernon Fire Department, Timber Mesa Fire Department, Arizona State Forestry, Pinetop Fire Department, and the City of Show Low.  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.

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 Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests are subject to Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. The department’s Air Quality Division: Smoke Management webpage provides details about its air quality program. When smoke impacts are present, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality recommends that smoke sensitive individuals should reduce physical activity and stay indoors with windows and doors closed. For those who are unable to avoid smoke exposure, use of a particulate-filtering respirator mask can help. Real-time mapping of smoke and other air quality impacts is available at fire.airnow.gov.

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

Doyle_Ortega_RX_Vicinity_Map_PIO.jpg

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Ozone High Pollution Advisory (HPA) for Thursday, October 3 and Friday, October 4, 2024

Take Action

• Drive less, carpool, use public transit, or telecommute. For information on transportation alternatives, visit ShareTheRide.com.
• Fuel your vehicle after dark or during cooler evening hours.
• Reduce wait time in long drive-thru lines. Park your vehicle and walk inside at coffee shops, fast-food restaurants, curbside pick-up, and banks.
• Use low-VOCs (volatile organic compounds) or water-based paints, stains, finishes, and paint strippers.
• Delay large painting projects until HPAs have passed.
• Properly seal containers of household cleaners, garage and yard chemicals, and other solvents to prevent vapors from evaporating into the air. Eliminate wood burning in fireplaces, stoves, chimeneas, and outdoor fire pits.
• Avoid using leaf blowers. Use a rake or broom to keep debris out of the road and away from storm drains, ditches, and streams.
• Conserve electricity.

HPA Restrictions

• Wood burning in residential fireplaces, chimeneas, outdoor fire pits, and similar outdoor fires is prohibited in Maricopa County. This includes individuals and businesses which have burn permits for open burning.
• Employees and contractors of government entities are prohibited from operating leaf blowers. Residents are encouraged to avoid leaf blowing.
• Off-highway vehicles are prohibited from being used.

Transportation Coordinators

Due to unhealthy levels of particulate matter, all Transportation Coordinators are requested to email employees and activate your HPA plans. The department encourages the use of alternative modes of transportation, especially when pollution levels are expected to be on the rise.

Ozone: Ground level ozone is formed by a chemical reaction that needs heat from sunlight, nitrogen oxides and VOCs to form. The months of April through September make up our Valley’s longer-than-normal "ozone season."

"High Pollution Advisory" or "HPA" means the highest concentration of pollution may exceed the federal health standard. Active children, adults, and people with lung disease such as asthma should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.

 Yesterday afternoon resources working on the Wasson Peak and Muldoon fires responded to a vehicle fire on Lincoln Ridge Road, north of Crown King that quickly moved into brush.  Firefighters with the help of a helicopter quickly stopped the progression of the Lincoln Fire keeping its size to 3/10 of an acre.
 
The Wasson Peak Fire, burning south of Crown King grew by one acre and is now 18 acres.  Firefighters will continue securing the fire’s edge, begin mop-op and monitor interior fuels that will continue to consume for the next several days.  Resources assigned: Prescott Hotshots, 2 – Type 2 crews, 1 – Engine and 2 Helicopters. The Wasson Peak Fire is burning in timber and brush.  Aircraft is available to support fire suppression efforts if needed. 
 
The Muldoon Fire, burning on the north side of Towers Mountain remains at 1 acre.  Firefighters will continue mopping-up and securing the fire’s edge by extinguishing burning fuels along the perimeter.   Resources assigned – 1 – Engine and 1 – Helicopter.   Due to terrain and location, access to the Muldoon Fire is by UTV and hiking.
 
This will be the last update on the Wasson Peak and Muldoon fires unless there is a significant change in fire activity.
 
Firefighters will be using a full suppression strategy to achieve 100 percent containment of both fires that were started from lightning. At this time there are no values at risk or threatened, or any road closures.
 
Even though both fires were started by lightning, we would like to remind the public to never leave your campfire unattended.  Warm temperatures are expected through the weekend so please do your part and practice prevention. 
 
For information please call the Bradshaw Ranger District at 928-443-8000 or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.     

 Tonto National Forest firefighters will begin a prescribed burn near Carol Springs Mountain located about 25 miles north of Globe, Arizona on the Globe Ranger District, Oct. 07 through Nov. 17 as conditions allow.

Firefighters will be focusing on 1,200 acres within the Carol Springs south unit, a continuation of last year’s prescribed fire efforts in the north and south units of Carol Springs. This operation is a part of the Tonto’s Timber Camp prescribed fire plan to treat 7,313 acres. 

The Timber Camp prescribed fire plan is a component of the Tonto’s San Carlos Tribal Forest Protection Act (TFPA) fuel reduction project. Under this cross-boundary forest restoration effort, the San Carlos TFPA will treat national forest lands along the eastern boundary of the Globe Ranger District adjacent to the San Carlos Apache Tribal Reservation land. For more information on the San Carlos TFPA and other wildfire crisis strategy projects on the Tonto please visit our Wildfire Crisis on the Tonto website. 

These treatments will 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. 

For the safety of firefighters and the public, officials urge motorists to use extreme caution when driving on U.S. Route 60 as fire specialists anticipate possible smoke impacts from mile marker 272 to mile marker 288. Burning will cease by 3 p.m. each day to reduce smoke impacts to U.S. Route 60. 

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. For more information about the Forest Service’s 10-year strategy to address the wildfire crisis, visit the Confronting the Wildfire Crisis webpage.

For additional information, contact the Globe Ranger Station located at 7680 S. Six Shooter Rd., Globe, Arizona. Or phone the station at (928) 402-6200, 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, Instagram @tontonationalforest or X (formally Twitter) @TontoForest or  visit our website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/tonto.

Yesterday, resources from Prescott National Forest responded to two separate fires near the community of Crown King.

The Wasson Peak Fire, burning south of Crown King is 17 acres.  Today, firefighters will continue to put a line around the fire, securing the fire’s edge. 

The Muldoon Fire, burning on the north side of Towers Mountain, is 1 acre.  Yesterday, firefighters were able to put a line around the fire; today they will mop-up, securing the fire’s edge. 

Firefighters will be using a full suppression strategy to achieve 100 percent containment of both fires that were started from lightning. At this time there are no values at risk or threatened, or any road closures.

We would like to ask the public to avoid Forest Road 92 and if you are traveling to Crown King, please be cautious as fire equipment will be traveling on the roads.

Fire details:
Wasson Peak Fire
Size: 17 acres
Cause: Lightning
Resources assigned: Prescott Hotshots, 2 Type-2 crews, 1 Engine and 2 Helicopters.  Aircraft is available to support fire suppression efforts if needed.
Fuels: Timber and brush

Muldoon Fire
Size: 1 acre
Cause: Lightning
Resources assigned: 1 Engine and 1 Helicopter.  Due to terrain and location, access to the Muldoon Fire is by UTV and hiking.

Important fire information:
For information, please call the Bradshaw Ranger District at (928) 443-8000.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Photos were taken by Air Attack on 10/01/2024.  Attack aircraft is a small aircraft that assists with locating the fire and access points for ground crews, retardant deployment, and performs aerial reconnaissance of the overall incident.

                                                                                     

This is photo 1 of the Wasson Peak Fire on October 2 2024.jpg                             This is photo 2 of the Wasson Peak Fire on October 2 2024.jpg

Unfavorable weather arriving to the local area overnight has persuaded Fire Managers to temporarily delay treatments on the Three Sisters Prescribed Fire Project until conditions improve that are more suitable for meeting project objectives.

Crews will shift operations to the 6900 acre Blue Stem Rx Project located on the Tusayan Ranger District located south of the Coconino Rim near Russell Tank and the Bucklar Ranch. There will be a temporary detour on approximately 7 miles of the Arizona Trail from forest road 310 to the Moqui Stage Station. Trail users will be diverted to forest roads 311 and 301 along the west side of the burn area, and are asked to follow designated routes posted along the trail until the detour is lifted. Operations are expected to last 3-4 days.

These burns are part of four designated project areas that have been scheduled for burning in the month of October on the south zone of the Kaibab National Forest. Unpredictable weather changes can often cause delays, however fire managers maintain flexibility and can move into other geographical areas that stay within prescription parameters.

Visitors can expect to see and hear a helicopter in the area, as aerial ignitions will occur on portions of the burn. Aerial-drone systems should not be used near the active project area, as they could interfere with aircraft operations.

Smoke will be visible from areas adjacent to these burns, however is not expected to impact any rural developed communities. Cooler overnight temperatures may cause smoke to settle into low-lying drainages surrounding these burn locations.

Motorists are reminded to use caution and drive with heightened awareness when passing through any active project areas.

Goals of prescribed fire treatments include decreasing the threat of unnatural severe wildfire and potential negative consequences to the community, improving forest health, and reintroducing fire to an ecosystem that relies on frequent fire to maintain resilience. 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.

Our land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape.

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.

All prescribed fires are subject to approval by an agency administrator and by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. The department’s Air Quality Division: Smoke Management webpage provides details about its air quality program.

To learn more about smoke and public health, visit bit.ly/SmokeHealthAwareness.

The Kaibab National Forest remains committed to providing the public with ongoing updates with as much advance notice as possible. Sign up to receive Kaibab NF news releases in your email.

Additional information can be found on the Kaibab NF website, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, or by calling the Fire Information Recorded Hotline at 928-635-8311 or local ranger stations.

Blue Stem Rx Project

This morning at 6:00 A.M., resources from Prescott National Forest responded to a reported wildfire south of the community of Crown King on Wasson Peak.  The Prescott Hot Shots, 2 – Engines, and 1 – Type 2 crew along with 1 – Type 1 Helicopter are on scene of the 4-acre Wasson Peak Fire that is burning in timber and brush.
 
Firefighters are also responding to a ¼ acre fire burning on the north side of Towers Mountain.
 
Firefighters will be using a full suppression strategy to achieve 100 percent containment of both fires that were started from lightning. At this time, there are no values at risk or threatened, or any road closures.
 
We would like to ask the public to avoid Forest Road 92 and if you are traveling to Crown King, please be cautious as fire equipment will be traveling on the roads.
 
For information please call the Bradshaw Ranger District at (928) 443-8000 or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. 

The Coconino National Forest plans to continue work on two prescribed burn projects this week that will help restore healthier conditions to the forest and fire-dependent ecosystems.

Prescribed burns will be canceled if weather conditions – such as temperature, wind or humidity – do not meet the criteria outlined in the burn plans.

Mint West project:

• When: Wednesday, Oct. 2.
• Where: Located on the Flagstaff Ranger District 10 miles east of Munds Park, just southwest of Mormon Lake. A project map is available online.
• Why: This prescribed burn will reintroduce fire to a fire-adapted ecosystem and reduce hazardous forest fuels such as downed trees and decaying plant matter in the Mormon Lake area. The reduction of those hazardous fuels will protect values at risk in the area, such as the Mormon Lake community, campgrounds and other private inholdings.
• Size: 3,982 acres
• Method/Type of Burn: Broadcast initial entry and maintenance burn. Maintenance burns usually mean wildfire has recently been through the area, which tends to mean less smoke since forest fuels will not be as thick or built up over time. Initial entry burns mean wildfire has not been through the area in a very long time and thus results in thicker smoke due to a large amount of forest fuels being present that must be burned.
• Duration: This burn is planned for five days.
• Smoke Impacts: Smoke is expected to impact Lake Mary Road and the Mormon Lake area. Smoke will be highly visible from Flagstaff.
• Closures/Restrictions: No formal closure orders will be issued, but Arizona Trail hikers will be asked to follow a re-route to avoid hazardous areas.

A map of the Mint West prescribed burn on September 30 2024.jpg

Blue Ridge Urban Interface project:

• When: Tuesday, Oct. 1
• Where: Located on the Mogollon Rim Ranger District, roughly 9 miles northeast of Clints Well. A project map is available online.
• Why: This prescribed burn will reduce fuel loading around the communities of Blue Ridge, thus lessening the risk of catastrophic unplanned wildfire during times of critical fire weather. This project also reintroduces fire into a fire-adapted ecosystem.
• Size: 7,000 acres
• Method/Type of Burn: Broadcast maintenance burn.
• Duration: This project is anticipated to last three weeks, with ignitions occurring sporadically during the project timeline.
• Smoke Impacts: Smoke is expected to travel to the north and northeast and will be highly noticeable from nearby communities such as Pine, Strawberry and Happy Jack. Smoke may likely travel to Highway 87 and impact Winslow, Holbrook and Interstate 40.
• Closures/Restrictions: No formal closure orders will be issued, but Arizona Trail hikers will be asked to follow a re-route to avoid hazardous areas.

A map of the Clints Well prescribed burn on September 30 2024.jpg

Prescribed burn information can always be accessed in several ways:

Via InciWeb at inciweb.wildfire.gov. All projects will be detailed on the “Coconino National Forest 2024 Fall Prescribed Burn Season – AZCOF” page.
On Twitter at @CoconinoNF
On Facebook - search "U.S. Forest Service - Coconino National Forest"
Via news releases. Subscribe to Coconino National Forest news releases by visiting coconinonationalforest.us, and then clicking the "Get News Via Email" link under the "Stay Connected" header

Prescribed burns are always dependent upon weather and wind conditions, as well as approval from Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). The public can view approved prescribed burns on ADEQ’s website at smoke.azdeq.gov. Coconino NF burns begin with the designator “COF.”

During prescribed burns, smoke will be visible from several areas across the forest. Please refrain from contacting dispatch or 911 to report prescribed burn smoke so lines can remain open for emergencies. 

The Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy aims to increase prescribed burning and other treatments across the landscape to improve forest resiliency for generations to come. With that work comes more smoke which can have an impact on both the public and our responders. 

We recognize that smoke impacts can affect residents and visitors in addition to our fire personnel. We will continue to coordinate closely with partners and communities to keep people informed about projects and potential smoke. Affected communities can learn more at airnow.gov.

Prior to conducting prescribed burns, the Coconino NF follows steps outlined in the agency-wide National Prescribed Fire Review. These steps include items such as validating and updating prescribed burn plans with the most recent science and modeling, incorporating new drought monitoring data, ensuring the patrol plan and long-term patrol strategy is documented and communicating with and involving landowners, cooperators, elected officials and partners as we implement prescribed fires.

Prescribed burns are an important part of maintaining forest health. For more information on why prescribed burns are conducted and how they benefit the landscape and help protect communities, please visit our Prescribed Fire and Forest Health webpage.