December 3, 2024

Whiteriver, Arizona: The Bureau of Indian Affairs Fort Apache Agency Fire Management in coordination with the White Mountain Apache Tribe are planning to conduct prescribed burning within the Hop-Cot and Seven Mile burn unit today, Tuesday, December 3, 2024. If conditions are favorable, active ignitions will continue for several days.

The Hop-Cot burn unit is located approximately 8 miles southwest of Show Low, Arizona and just west of Forestdale. A total of 2,410 acres are targeted to be treated.

The Seven Mile Burn Unit is located The Seven Mile Burn Unit is located approximately 5 miles east of Whiteriver, Arizona. A total of 300 acres are targeted to be treated.

Active ignition will take one to seven days, with some smoke visible in the burn area for up to a week after ignition operations are completed. The purpose of this burn is to reduce hazardous fuels and the chance for future high-intensity wildfires.

Nearby residents should expect smoke in the vicinity. Drivers should pay extra attention while traveling through Highway 60 or adjacent to this burn unit. Officials expect smoke to dissipate quickly during burn days, but some smoke could linger in valley bottoms and drainages for short durations.

If you have any questions regarding our prescribed burning efforts, you can call Candy Lupe, Public Information Officer at (928) 338-5425 or you can log onto BIA Fort Apache Fort Apache Agency’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/BIAFAAFireMgt.

Forest Service News Release
Media Contact:
Lakeside Ranger District: (928) 368-2100
https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf

SPRINGERVILLE, Ariz. – November 19, 2024 – Fire managers plan to continue prescribed fire operations on the Lakeside Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests beginning November 20 through November 22, 2024, as weather and vegetation conditions allow for successful operations.

The 260 burn unit is 796 acres and is 2 miles west of Linden, Arizona, and 3 miles east of Pinedale. The project unit is within Forest Road 143C, Forest Road 9810R, Forest Road143D, Forest Road 9809L, Forest Road 143, and Forest Road 9810T.This landscape treatment is a cooperative effort with Arizona Game and Fish Department, Timber Mesa Fire Department, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, and Clay Springs Fire Department.

The objective of this prescribed fire project is to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations, minimize the risk of high-severity wildfires, and return the landscape to a more fire-resistant condition, aligning with the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy. The Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy aims to reduce wildfire risk to people, communities, and natural resources while sustaining and restoring healthy, resilient fire-adapted forests.

Smoke may be visible from the City of Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside, Communities of Pinedale, and Clay Springs and along Highways 60 and 260. Smoke could last for several days after initial ignitions take place, but should be significantly less each day afterwards. We recognize that smoke can impact residents, visitors, and our fire personnel. We will continue to coordinate closely with our partners and communities to minimize smoke impacts as much as possible. The department’s Air Quality Division: Smoke Management webpage provides details about its air quality program. When smoke impacts are present, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality recommends that smoke sensitive individuals should reduce physical activity and stay indoors with windows and doors closed. For those who are unable to avoid smoke exposure, use of a particulate-filtering respirator mask can help.

Real-time mapping of smoke and other air quality impacts is available at fire.airnow.gov. Visit the A-S National Forests website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf and follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs.

September 30, 2024

Whiteriver, AZ – The Bureau of Indian Affairs Fort Apache Agency Fire Management in
coordination with the White Mountain Apache Tribe, plans to conduct prescribed burns in multiple units this fall and winter. A total of 26 burn units on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation are targeted for treated by either pile burning or broadcast burning totaling 40,100 acres.

Prescribed fire is an important tool for reducing unnatural vegetation fuel loading and restoring natural fire regimes, helping communities live more safely with fire. The late fall prescribed burning conditions are designed to have low to moderate fire intensity, which produces beneficial post-fire effects.

Prescribed burning activities depend on the availability of fire personnel, weather conditions, fuel moisture levels and smoke management. Location and timing of burns will be identified on a weekly basis. Prescribed Fire personnel will conduct prescribed fire activities during the safest possible “burn windows” in the coming months. The tentative start date for prescribed burning is on Monday, October 7, 2024, contingent upon favorable conditions. The next news release will be released two days prior to treatment with exact location.

Forest visitors are reminded to drive with care while traveling in the vicinity of prescribed burn units as firefighters and fire-related traffic will be in the area.

If you have any questions regarding our upcoming prescribed burning efforts, you can call Candy Lupe, Public Information Officer at (928) 205-5752 or you can log onto BIA Fort Apache Fort Apache Agency’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/BIAFAAFireMgt.