Lakeside Ranger District continues to burn slash piles

Springerville, AZ, August 21, 2017—The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests’ Lakeside Ranger District will be burning slash piles August 21 through August 27, if conditions allow. The ignition will be on Upper Rocky Arroyo, Gobbler Timber sale, east of Pinetop Country Club along Forest Service Road 185, 283 and 9600T. Scattered piles will be burned across roughly 182 acres of forest land.

Smoke impact is anticipated along Highway 60 and 260 and within the Pinetop Community. Smoke will may be visible from the communities of Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside and Vernon. In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to use caution when traveling in the vicinity of the pile burn 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 to private lands. Crews will be on scene from ignition until there is no longer a threat of escape from the project boundaries.

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.