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Fire managers with the Coconino National Forest plan to burn piles of slash along Snowbowl Road tomorrow to reduce hazardous forest fuels.

For the latest information at any time of the day, details and updates about all prescribed burn projects can be found on the Coconino NF Prescribed Burn Projects Inciweb page, which is updated any time new information is available

Snowbowl Road Piles Project

• Date: Nov. 7, 2024
• Location: Flagstaff Ranger District. About 3 miles up Snowbowl Road (approximately 7.5 miles northwest of Flagstaff).
• Size: 57 acres
• Type of Burn: Pile burn. Pile burning is burning forest slash that has been piled up from mechanical or hand-thinning projects. Pile burns are done during winter months when moisture or snow is on the ground so the heat can be managed safely.
• Smoke Impacts: Possible smoke impacts to Fort Valley and U.S. Highway 180. North and east winds are predicted.
• Why: Burning these piles from timber treatments effectively removes them as a forest fuel.
• Closures: No closures are associated with this project.

Smoke Impacts & Management

Fire managers take air quality concerns seriously and seek to minimize smoke impacts to the greatest extent possible. Despite the benefits of prescribed burns, we are aware that members of the community can be sensitive to the smoke produced. We coordinate closely with partners to keep communities informed about projects and potential smoke, as well as try to mitigate impacts to communities as much as possible. One tool to use to track air quality and smoke impacts is fire.airnow.gov.

A new Smoke Complaint Hotline has been established for the public at (928) 226-4608 for the public to leave their name and number if they would like to speak to fire leadership regarding smoke impacts and prescribed burn concerns.

 Francisco Sánchez Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration, today announced the opening of its virtual Business Recovery Center to meet the needs of Havasupai Tribe businesses and individuals who were affected by flooding that occurred Aug. 22–23.

“When disasters strike, our virtual Business Recovery Centers are key to helping business owners and residents get back on their feet,” Sánchez said. “At these virtual centers, people can connect directly with our specialists to apply for disaster loans and learn about the full range of programs available to rebuild and move forward in their recovery journey.”

SBA has established a virtual Business Recovery Center to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each individual complete their electronic loan application.

Virtual Business Recovery Center

• Mondays – Fridays
• 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time
• [email protected]
• (916) 932-8956
• Opens at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5
• Closed Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, in observance of Veterans Day

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 regardless of whether the business 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 continued. “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.”

SBA 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 2.813 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.

On October 15, 2024, it was announced that funds for the Disaster Loan Program have been fully expended. While no new loans can be issued until Congress appropriates additional funding, we remain committed to supporting disaster survivors. Applications will continue to be accepted and processed to ensure individuals and businesses are prepared to receive assistance once funding becomes available.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding.

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 deadline to apply for property damage is Dec. 24, 2024. The deadline to apply for economic injury is July 25, 2025.

 Francisco Sánchez Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration, today reminded private nonprofit organizations in the San Carlos Apache Tribe of the Dec. 3, deadline to apply for an SBA federal disaster loan for property damage caused by Watch Fire that occurred July 10-17. Private nonprofits that provide essential services of a governmental nature are eligible for assistance.

According to Sánchez, eligible private nonprofits of any size may apply for SBA federal disaster loans of up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

In addition, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help eligible private nonprofits meet 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 private nonprofit suffered any property damage. Private nonprofits have until July 7, 2025, to apply for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan.

“SBA’s disaster loan program offers an important advantage–the chance to incorporate measures that can reduce the risk of future damage,” Sánchez continued. “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. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and 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.

On October 15, 2024, it was announced that funds for the Disaster Loan Program have been fully expended. While no new loans can be issued until Congress appropriates additional funding, we remain committed to supporting disaster survivors. Applications will continue to be accepted and processed to ensure individuals and businesses are prepared to receive assistance once funding becomes available.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding.

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.

 

Tonto National Forest firefighters are planning five “pit burns” on the Payson Ranger District beginning in November and continuing through March 2025 as weather and related conditions permit.

The Payson Pits prescribed fire project will remove assorted woody fuels resulting from clearing projects on federal and private lands. The Tonto’s Facebook and ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) social media pages will post specific start dates and projected end times for each prescribed fire.

Each pit is approximately two acres and includes debris from National Forest System lands, area cooperators and local property owners. Fire specialists will oversee burning at the following locations:

• Chase Pit, located 11 miles north of Payson, Arizona.
• Conner Pit, located 20 miles south of Young, Arizona, on the Globe-Young Highway near mile marker 281.
• Gisela Pit, located one mile north of Gisela, Arizona.
• Pleasant Valley Pit, located two miles south of Young, Arizona, on the Globe-Young Highway near mile marker 304.
• Ponderosa Pit, located 12 miles east of Payson on State Route 260 at mile marker 265.

For additional information about the above projects, contact the Payson Ranger Station located at 1009 E. Highway 260, Payson, Arizona. Or phone the station at (928) 474-7900 Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.

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With predicted moisture in the next couple of days, fire managers with the Coconino National Forest are planning on conducting pile burns 4 miles west of Flagstaff, south of Interstate 40 along Naval Observatory Road.

Smoke will be visible to those in Flagstaff and motorists along I-40 and may impact areas of Flagstaff Ranch.

A small amount of piles are also planned for burning in the Flagstaff Hotshot Ranch area near Fort Valley. Smoke will be light.

Pile burning is burning forest slash that has been piled up from mechanical or hand-thinning projects. Pile burns are done during winter months when moisture or snow is on the ground so the heat can be managed safely.

Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to certain private nonprofit organizations in Havasupai Tribe following President Biden’s federal disaster declaration for Public Assistance as a result of flooding that occurred Aug. 22-23, announced Administrator Isabel 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 FEMA Public Assistance Branch Chief Michael Gayrard by calling (510) 627-7761 or emailing [email protected] 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. 24, 2024. The deadline to apply for economic injury is July 25, 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.

On October 15, 2024, it was announced that funds for the Disaster Loan Program have been fully expended. While no new loans can be issued until Congress appropriates additional funding, we remain committed to supporting disaster survivors. Applications will continue to be accepted and processed to ensure individuals and businesses are prepared to receive assistance once funding becomes available.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding.

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.

Fire managers on the Prescott National Forest plan to conduct prescribed burning in the Prescott Basin on the Bradshaw Ranger District south of Prescott, Arizona.  Ignitions are planned to start Friday, November 1, and continue into early next week depending on weather conditions and resource availability.  

The Goldwater RX is located east of Highway 89 and Ponderosa Park Road; west of School House Gulch Road; north of Marapai Road; and west of Goldwater Lake. Resources will remain on scene to monitor and patrol in the days following the prescribed burn.

Trails in the Bean Peaks area will be closed during prescribed fire operations including: Green Bean #0007, Magic Bean #0015, Spicy Bean #0017, Baked Bean #0015, Beany Baby #0018, Mr. Bean #0007, Bean Sprout #0019, Rice and Beans #0018, Limey Bean #0023, Jelly Bean #0025, and Ponderosa Trail #0382. 

We would like to thank the community for its patience and understanding as we work to treat hazardous fuels and restore resilient landscapes.  Prescribed fires in the wildland-urban interface also help create buffer zones where we have a higher probability of safely stopping future unwanted wildfires.

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.  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).  In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to obey all traffic signs and use caution when traveling in the vicinity of prescribed burns as firefighters and fire-related traffic will be in the area.

Prescott National Forest’s land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health and includes reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape. Low to moderate fire behavior can reduce hazardous fuels in the and increase ecosystem and community resilience.  A variety of ground and aerial resources are being used to meet the project objectives.  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 threaten lives and property; and negatively impact watersheds and wildlife habitat.

For fire information please call the Bradshaw Ranger District at 928-443-8000 during regular office hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 - 12:00 & 12:30 - 4:00.  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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Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to Havasupai Tribe businesses and residents as a result of President Biden’s major disaster declaration, U.S. Small Business Administration’s Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman announced.

The declaration covers the Havasupai Tribe as a result of the flooding that occurred Aug. 22-23.

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 2.813 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.

On October 15, 2024, it was announced that funds for the Disaster Loan Program have been fully expended. While no new loans can be issued until Congress appropriates additional funding, we remain committed to supporting disaster survivors. Applications will continue to be accepted and processed to ensure individuals and businesses are prepared to receive assistance once funding becomes available.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding.

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 plan to conduct prescribed fire operations on the Alpine Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests beginning November 1 through November 30, 2024, as weather and vegetation conditions allow for successful operations.

The Loco Knoll burn unit is 6,695 acres and is approximately 12 miles southeast of Springerville, 11 miles northeast of Alpine, and on the north side of Escudilla mountain.  The project area boundaries are east of the no named two track road next to White Mountain Acres subdivision, south of Forest Service Road (FSR) 275B and constructed control lines west of FSR 851A and north of FSR 275 and FSR 851.

The objective of this prescribed fire project 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 aims to reduce wildfire risk to people, communities, and natural resources while sustaining and restoring healthy, resilient fire-adapted forests. 

Smoke may be visible from Highway 191 and drift towards Springerville and Nutrioso.  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. 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.

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Fire managers on the Verde Ranger District plan to use ground and aerial resources to treat fuels at two locations in the Mingus Mountain area between Sunday, November 3 and Friday, November 29. 

Descriptions:

• Crater RX (T14N, R3E, Sec 19,20,21,28,29,30,31,32,33) – is a 2,805 acre burn, two miles north of HWY 169, four miles northwest of I-17, and one mile south of Cherry. Vegetation is primarily brush and grass, with small areas of juniper and ponderosa pine.
• Grapevine/Strawberry RX (T14N, R2E, Sec 2,3,4,8,9,10,12,13,14,15,16) – is a 7,144 acre burn, five miles north of HWY 169, five miles southeast of HWY 89A, six miles northeast of Dewey, and five miles northwest of Cherry. Vegetations is primarily brush and grass, with areas of ponderosa pine.

 Expect smoke impacts to be light to moderate and visible from multiple locations including Verde Valley, Cherry, Dewey-Humbolt, Prescott and surrounding areas.

The objective of these prescribed burns is to improve conditions for native vegetation by reducing shrub and juniper fuel loading.  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 lands 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.  Implementation also depends on the availability of personnel and equipment; conditions that minimize smoke impacts as much as possible; and approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (www.azdeq.gov).  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 area communities.

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.

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.

Maps of the Crater and Grapevine/Strawberry prescribed fires:

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A map of the Grapevine Strawberry prescribed fire on October 28 2024.jpg

Fire managers with the Coconino National Forest are currently monitoring a lightning-caused wildfire that was reported the morning of October 25 approximately 11 miles south of Flagstaff on the west side of Interstate 17 near the Newman Park exit.

The Smith Fire is currently 55 acres within the burn scar of the Scott Fire of 2023 and moving at a low rate of spread with no structures threatened.

Fire managers are considering this wildfire as a candidate to manage for forest health but waiting to see what the next couple of days brings in precipitation.

If the Smith Fire survives the coming weather and continues to look like a favorable candidate for managing, more information will be shared through news releases and an Inciweb account for the fire will be established to share regular updates.

Managing fires such as the Smith Fire helps with forest health by consuming hazardous forest fuels such as pine needles, cones, and dead wood, and helps create a buffer in an area that is typically susceptible to the direction of catastrophic wildfires during traditional southwest winds.

Hicks Fire

The Hicks Fire was reported on Sunday at 3 p.m. in an area 7 miles southwest of Clints Well, south of West Clear Creek, and is currently under investigation. Currently estimated at 111 acres, firefighters are working to suppress this wildfire. Smoke may be visible to those in the immediate area.

No prescribed burn projects are planned for the week of October 28.