Hilltop Prescribed Burn Scheduled

Springerville, AZ—October 16, 2018 –The Black Mesa Ranger District on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests plan to conduct a prescribed burn within the Heber-Overgaard area between the Hilltop Circle K and Forest Road 86 in Township 12N, Range 16 East, and Section 14 just south of State Route (SR) 260, starting Wednesday, October 17, 2018.   

Smoke will be seen from SRs 260 and within the Heber community.  There may be light to moderate impacts within the area throughout the remainder of the week and should decrease significantly each evening after the primary ignition occurs.

The prescribed burn will be conducted to consume slash piles that were created by thinning projects. These projects were initiated to reduce the amount of vegetation and dead and down material within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) in the area.  This project will help create a cleaner fuel break, of less vegetation to help reduce the risk if a wildland fire were to start within the WUI area in the near future.

The ignitions for the pile burn will cover a four to seven acre area depending on weather condition and could last for up to two days.  Ignitions will be held up at 15:00 (3:00 p.m.) to allow burning piles to consume and reduce the amount of residual smoke to the immediate community during the evening hours that could occur

Once ignition occurs, crews will be on scene from ignition until there is no longer a threat of escape from the project boundaries.

For further information on this burn please call the Black Mesa Ranger District at (928) 535-7300