UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
Fort Apache Agency
P.O. Box 560 Whiteriver, Arizona 85941
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Wildland Fire Management News Release Contact: Candy Lupe, Public Information Officer, (928) 338-5425 Email: candy.lupe@bia.gov
November 18, 2019

FINAL BROADCAST BURN UPDATE
Fort Apache Agency is winding down broadcast burning efforts on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.  Since October 9, 2019, a total of 17,879 acres has been treated within several burn units. This will be the final week of broadcast burning for the Reservation. Pile burning treatments will begin in December 2019, within the Rodeo-Chediski Burned Area and more details will be forthcoming.

This week, fire resources will treat the Sevenmile burn unit (8 miles east of Whiteriver) and Soldier Butte Burn Unit (8 miles east of McNary).  Ignition operations may take place over the remaining of this week depending on weather conditions.

Smoke may continue to be visible from within the interior of the burn units. Nearby residents should expect smoke in the vicinity and drivers should pay extra attention while traveling through or adjacent to burn areas. All Prescribed Fire activity will be carefully monitored and will comply with smoke management guidelines to reduce the impact of smoke on local residents. If conditions become unfavorable, prescribed burning efforts will be ceased to mitigate smoke impacts to the communities.

The public should avoid entering the burn units for their safety and fire fighter safety. If you have any questions regarding our upcoming prescribed burning efforts, you can call Candy Lupe, Public Information Officer at (928) 338-5425, (928) 205-5662 or you can log onto BIA Fort Apache Agency’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/BIAFAAFireMgt.