Lakeside, AZ, May 27, 2019 — The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest’s Lakeside Ranger District will be conducting a prescribed burn within the Bannon Unit. This area is part of the Timber Mesa/ Vernon Wildland Urban Interface project approved in 2012 just West of Ojo Bonito Estates along Apache County Road 3163.

This 84 acre unit will be burned between May 27 and June 2, 2019, depending on weather conditions. Smoke impacts are anticipated along US Highway 60 and the developments around Timber Knoll and the Ojo Bonito Estates and the Community of Vernon. In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to use caution when traveling in the vicinity of prescribed burns as smoke may reduce visibility in the area.

Prescribed burning provides many benefits and is essential to maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. It provides habitat diversity, recycles plant nutrients into the soil and encourages new growth for a variety of plants used by wildlife and livestock. Prescribed burning of forest ground fuels also reduces the threat of large scale wildfire impacts. Crews will be on scene from ignition until there is no longer a threat of escape from the project boundaries. Prescribed fire operations are subject to cancelation due to unfavorable weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstance.

For questions or concerns please contact the Lakeside Ranger District at (928) 368-2100, or dial 311 to reach the Northeastern Arizona Public Information System. Also, check out our website at www.fs.usda.gov/asnf or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs/.