3/6/16 3:57 PM
A 100 acre wildfire is burning near Aripine. The fire began earlier this afternoon and is being considered human caused. Crews from local fire agencies and Forest Service are currently working to get this fire contained. More information will be posted as it becomes available.
3/3/16 – Northeast Arizona can expect a change in the weather this Sunday. The National Weather Service is predicting southwest winds from 20-35 MPH with gusts from 40-50 MPH possible across areas along and north of the Mogollon Rim.
A Pacific storm system is expected to bring a period of colder weather along with a chance of rain and snow to the northland Sunday through Tuesday. Snow levels could fall as low as 5000 feet on Monday and Monday night. There is still uncertainty in the exact track of the system which will affect the eventual snow amounts but at this time these amounts appear to be on the light side. Please stay tuned for forecast updates.
3/2/16 – The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, Lakeside Ranger District will continue burning a prescribed burn within the McCleve unit of the Rodeo-Chediski fire area. The McCleve Unit is 2,700 acres, located three miles south of Pinedale on Forest Service Road (FR) 130. (T10N, R19E, S25, 26, 35, 36 and T10N, R20E S29, 30, 31and 32). The prescribed fire block is surrounded by FR 130, 263, and 300. In early December 2015, the district completed approximately 1,000 acres of burning within the project area. Fire management proposes to burn an estimated 1,000 additional acres to complete this phase of the project. At a later date, the remaining 700 acres will also be treated.
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. Prescribed burning of forest ground fuels also reduces the threat of large-scale wildfire impacts to private lands. 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 at: www.fs.usda.gov/asnf