SPRINGERVILLE, Ariz. – April 16, 2024 – The Lakeside Ranger District plans to conduct prescribed fire operations on the Lakeside Ranger District starting as early as April 22 and may continue through May 15, 2024 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 Rodeo-Chediski Prescribed Fire project includes the Bear unit at 1,321 acres, and the Yellow Jacket unit at 1,186 acres. The Bear and Yellow Jacket Units are 3 miles to the south of Pinedale and to the east of Pinedale Estates along Forest Road (FR) 131, FR 300, FR 263, and FR 143.

A public meeting will be held at the Pinedale Work Center on Friday, April 19, 2024 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Forest Service Fire Managers and other fire officials will be in attendance to provide a briefing about the prescribed fire project, and will answer questions for those that may be impacted by smoke or are just interested in getting additional information.

Smoke may be visible from the City of Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside, communities of Pinedale, Clay Springs, and Snowflake. Smoke could also travel across Highways 260, 77 and 60. Smoke could last for several days after initial ignitions take place but should be significantly less each day afterwards. Air quality information can be found at https://www.airnow.gov/.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is a partner on this prescribed fire project which aims to improve wildlife habitat within hunting unit 3C. The burn treatment will improve range habitat for elk, mule deer, turkey, pronghorn, and bear. Prescribed fires support land management objectives by improving plant and wildlife habitat, reducing the threat of invasive species on the landscape, and help protect communities from extreme wildfires. This prescribed fire is within the Four Forest Restoration Initiative area (4FRI) and is part of the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy to reduce wildfire risk to nearby communities and natural resources.

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SPRINGERVILLE, Ariz. – January 31, 2024 – Fire managers on the Lakeside Ranger District plan to continue prescribed fire operations on the Cabin unit slash piles. The project area is approximately 40 acres and is expected to be completed either today or tomorrow. Piles are composed of timber slash created from thinning projects or wildfire suppression activities and are treated to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations. Prescribed fire operations are contingent on multiple factors, including favorable weather conditions, air quality, and resource availability.

The Cabin project area is located 2 miles northeast of Lakeside, AZ. The project boundary is the Osprey Connector Trail, Forest Road (FR) 9712C, and FR 45. Fire crews will patrol the burn area each day until there is no threat of fire movement.
The objective for these prescribed fires is to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations and minimize the risk of high-severity wildfires, aligning with the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy.

Smoke impacts are expected to be minimal and may be visible from Highways 60, 77, and 260. Travelers are advised to use extra caution when driving in the vicinity during project implementation.

Air quality information is available at https://www.airnow.gov/. Visit the A-S National Forests website and follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 24, 2024

Show Low, AZ -The Navajo County Public Health Services District (NCPHSD) is alerting the public of rabid animals across the region. Since January 18^th there have been four instances of wild foxes approaching and attacking humans in the Show Low, Pinetop/Lakeside area. Navajo County Animal Care and Control was able to trap two infected animals and send their remains to the state lab for testing. The lab did confirm that the remains were positive for rabies. Navajo County Animal Care is continuing an active search for any remaining infection.

Rabies is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Most of the rabies cases that are reported each year occur in wild animals such as bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes, although any mammal can get rabies.

NCPHSD stresses that a bite from a rabid animal can be potentially fatal if not treated in a timely manner. The public should take precautions to avoid contact with wildlife as well as stray domesticated animals such as cats or dogs throughout the region.   

NCPHSD also reminds the public to make sure that rabies vaccinations are up-to-date for pets and any valuable livestock or horses for whom a rabies vaccine is available. If a pet is exposed to a high-risk wild animal such as a bat, skunk, raccoon, fox or coyote contact a veterinarian immediately.

Rabies is a virus that affects the nervous system (brain and nerves). People can get rabies after being bitten by an infected animal.  Rabies can also be contracted when saliva or spit from a rabid animal gets directly into a person’s eyes, nose, mouth, or an open wound. If you have been bitten by any animal or had contact with the saliva of a wild animal, seek immediate medical attention. Rabies treatment, if needed, must begin quickly.

The signs and symptoms of a rabies infection in humans include those that are similar to the flu, such as weakness, discomfort, fever, or headache. There also may be discomfort, prickling, or an itching sensation at the site of the bite. These symptoms may last for days. Symptoms then progress to cerebral (brain) dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, and agitation. As the disease progresses, the person may experience delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, hydrophobia (fear of water), and insomnia. This period of disease usually lasts two to ten days. Once clinical signs of rabies appear, the disease is nearly always fatal.

The signs and symptoms of rabies in animals can vary. Symptoms in animals are often similar to those in humans. An animal does not have to be aggressive or exhibit other symptoms to have rabies.  Changes in any animal’s normal behavior can be early signs of rabies. For instance, a bat that is active during the day, found on the ground, or is unable to fly may be rabid. 

The following tips can help prevent the spread of rabies:

• Do not have physical contact with stray or wild animals.
• Never bring stray or wild animals into your home. Do not try to nurse sick wild animals back to health. Call animal control for assistance.
• Do not feed or unintentionally attract stray or wild animals with open garbage cans or litter.
• Ensure that your pets are up to date on their rabies vaccine.
• Keep pets on a leash while recreating in the outdoors.
• Teach children to never handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.
• Maintain homes and other building to prevent unwanted animals from getting inside.
• A bite from a bat is difficult to detect; therefore, if you find a bat in your home, do not release the bat back to the outdoors until speaking with animal control or public health officials as the bat may need to be captured for rabies testing to determine if you need rabies treatment.

To report a bite from a wild animal or an animal acting suspicious, contact the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (928)-524-4050.

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