SPRINGERVILLE, AZ, December 07, 2020 – The Springerville Ranger District on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests will be conducting a prescribed burn within the Wallow West Prescribed Burn area starting Wednesday, December 9th, as weather conditions allow.
Unit 2A of the Wallow West Prescribed Burn area is located south of Big Lake, between Forest Roads 249E, 68, 24, and north of the Indian Springs trail. The total unit includes 1,495 acres. Fire managers have prioritized approximately 700 acres to be completed. Breaking larger burn areas into smaller acreages often limits the amount of smoke that impacts an area.
Ignition is scheduled to start early in the morning and lasts for one day. Fire crews will be on scene from the beginning of ignitions until there is no longer a threat of escape from the project boundaries.
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 various plants used by wildlife and livestock. Prescribed burning of forest ground fuels also reduces the threat of large-scale wildfire impacts on private lands.
Smoke will be visible from Hwy 260, 273, and the communities of Greer, Nutrioso, Springerville, and Eagar. All prescribed burns are approved through the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) before ignitions begin. ADEQ monitors air quality and determines whether or not it will be a good day for smoke dispersion.
Although smoke from prescribed fire can still be a nuisance, it is usually for a shorter time and considerably less smoke than wildfires produce. If you are sensitive to smoke or have respiratory problems, stay indoors if possible. To find helpful resources visit the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/asnf/fire.
The public can obtain additional information via the following:
• Local Ranger Station: Springerville RD (928) 333-6200
• 311 Information at (928) 333-3412
• Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/A_SNFs
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/apachesitgreavesnfs
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