11/2/16 – The Bureau of Indian Affairs Fort Apache Agency Fire Management in coordination with the White Mountain Apache Tribe began prescribed burn operations on Monday, October 17, 2016 within several burn units on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. A total of 7,951 acres have been treated to date in the following burn blocks:

• Corduroy Burn Unit (south of Pinetop, southwest of Hondah) – 2993 acres
• Coyote West Burn Unit (south of Pinetop, southwest of Hondah) -1084 acres
• Sevenmile Burn Unit (east of East Fork, just west of Nyce Cabin) – 682 acres
• Turkey Creek Burn Unit (east of Grindstone Mountain, north of the East Fork Mission School) – 2177 acres
• Elk Canyon Burn Unit (east of East Fork) – 798 acres

These small prescribed fires will help reduce fuel accumulation from logging and thinning projects, decrease the risk of high intensity wildfire, and to protect communities. Broadcast burning efforts will continue as long as conditions allow. Weather forescast predict precipitation over the next few days therefore, prescribed burning efforts may be limited.

Fire Managers will work up to three burn units in a given day. The following are areas where broadcast burning will continue within the next few days and possibly into the weekend:
• Turkey Creek Burn Unit
• Beaver Burn Unit (east of East Fork, in the Horse Mesa area)
• Corduroy Burn Unit
• Sevenmile Burn Unit
• Coyote West Burn Unit

Nearby residents should expect smoke in the vicinity and drivers should pay extra attention while traveling through or adjacent to burn areas. All prescribed fire activity will be carefully monitored and will comply with smoke management guidelines to reduce the impact of smoke on local residents. If conditions become unfavorable prescribed burning efforts will be ceased to mitigate smoke impacts to the communities.

If you have any questions regarding our upcoming prescribed burning efforts, you can call Candy Lupe, Public Information Officer at (928) 338-5425 or (928) 205-5662.