3/23/16 – The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, Lakeside Ranger District will continue the prescribed burn within the McCleve Unit of the Rodeo-Chediski Fire area March 21 through March 25, weather dependent. The 2,700 acres McCleve Unit is located three miles south of Pinedale on Forest Service Road (FR) 130. The prescribed fire block is surrounded by FR 130, 263, and 300. In December 2015, and earlier this month the district completed approximately 2,000 acres of treatment within the project area. Fire management proposes to burn an estimated 700 additional acres completing the project.
Ignition may last several days, with daily smoke impact anticipated within area drainages.

Smoke will be visible in the local area, from Arizona State Highway 260, Overgaard and Show Low.
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. Objectives of this project are to maintain and protect ponderosa pine stands while providing browse for wildlife. The prescribed fire is in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Habitat Partnership Committee.
Crews will be on scene from ignition until there is no longer a threat of escape from the project boundaries.
Questions or concerns contact the Lakeside Ranger District at (928) 368-2100 or by calling 311 or 928-333-3412. Also, check out the ASNFs website: www.fs.usda.gov/asnf

**Update – NWS has upgraded the Fire Weather Watch and issued a Red Flag Warning for Tuesday 3/22/16**

03/21/16 – The National Weather Service has advised that a strong upper level low pressure system and cold front are forecast to approach northern Arizona from the northwest today. Southwest winds will increase this afternoon primarily over west central and northwest Arizona with afternoon wind gusts from 20 to 40 MPH.

On Tuesday the strong upper level low pressure system and cold front are forecast to move across northern Arizona bringing windy and dry conditions out ahead of the cold front. Southwest winds from 20 to 35 MPH with gusts from 25 to 55 MPH are forecast for late Tuesday morning into early Tuesday evening from the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains northward. A few wind gusts up to 60 MPH are possible over portions of the Little Colorado River Valley.

In addition strong winds combined with low relative humidity values has prompted a Fire Weather Watch for Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for portions of the Little Colorado and Chinle Valleys and Chuska Mountains.

March 17, 2016; — For Immediate Release — The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests’ Lakeside Ranger District will be conducting a 1,100 acre prescribed burn within the Goodman unit of the Los Burros broadcast burn area beginning March 21, weather permitting and last through April 2, 2016. The Goodman unit is about two miles south of Vernon, along Apache County Road (CR) 3140. Forest Service Road 2, CR 3140 and hand or dozer lines will surround the burn.

The burn is to enhance wildlife habitat and watershed conditions while promoting forest health and protecting private land and communities from the effects of future high severity wildfire. This prescribed fire is in cooperation with the Arizona State Forestry, Vernon Fire Department, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Carlock Ranch.

Ignition may last several days, with daily smoke impact anticipated within area drainages. Smoke may be visible in the local area, Arizona State Highway 260, and U.S. Highway 60, Round Valley, Vernon and Show Low for several weeks.

All prescribed burns are approved through the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) before ignition begins. Although smoke from the prescribed fire can still be noticeable, it is usually for a shorter time, and considerably less smoke than wildfires produce. If you are sensitive to smoke or have respiratory problems, consider staying indoors if possible. You can check the status of air quality at your location: https://nmtracking.org/en/environ_exposure/fire-and-smoke/

Crews will be on scene from ignition until there is no longer a threat of escape from the project boundaries.

Questions or concerns contact the Lakeside Ranger District at (928) 368-2100 or by calling 311 or 928-333-3412. Also, check out our website: www.fs.usda.gov/asnf