G22 Fire on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation

Cibecue, Arizona – Fire personnel responded to the G22 Fire yesterday, April 4, 2021, northwest of Cibecue. The fire is burning within the Rodeo-Chediski burned area south of Spring Ridge.

Fire Activity and Operations: This fire will be managed for full suppression. Fire activity has been low. A red flag warning is in effect today for the fire area until 7p.m. Fire personnel will utilize the old road system to contain the fire. The fire is moving in a southwesterly direction.

Additional news releases will only be posted if significant changes in fire size, behavior or management objectives should occur.

If you have any questions regarding the fire, you can call Candy Lupe, Public Information Officer at (928) 205-5662 or you can log onto BIA Fort Apache Agency’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/BIAFAAFireMgt.

Prescribed Burn Scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 16th on the Black Mesa Ranger District

Springerville, AZ – Feb. 16, 2021 — The Black Mesa Ranger District on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests will be conducting a prescribed burn within the Black Mesa Administration Site Prescribed Burn area starting today, Tuesday, February 16th, due to favorable weather conditions.

The Black Mesa Administrate Site piles, approximately 5 acres, are located at the Black Mesa Ranger District in Overgaard. 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. This prescribed fire is a follow-up to previous hand thinning treatments within the unit. 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, 277, 377, and the communities of Heber-Overgaard, Aripine and Clay Springs. 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 www.fs.usda.gov/detail/asnf/fire.

The public can obtain additional information via the following:
• Local Ranger Station: Black Mesa RD (928) 535-7300
• 311 Information at (928) 333-3412
• Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests website at www.fs.usda.gov/asnf
• Twitter: twitter.com/A_SNFs
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs/

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Alpine Ranger District Plans to Conduct Pile Burns on January 27-31, 2021

Springerville, AZ – January 26, 2021 – The Alpine Ranger District on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests is planning a prescribed burn of piles beginning Wednesday, January 27-31, 2021, weather conditions permit. Piles consist of debris leftover from recent timber and sales. They are burned to reduce the fuel loading surrounding Alpine’s community. Fire personnel will monitor the burn until it is entirely out.

Smoke will be visible from Alpine, along portions of Arizona State Hwy 180/191, and portions of Forest Road 8056 (Escudilla/Hulsey Bench Rd.). Smoke may limit visibility on roads and may be present for up to one week after ignitions are complete. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures.

All prescribed burns are approved through the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) before ignitions begin, and they monitor air quality. Please visit the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s webpage: https://azdeq.gov/, for additional information regarding air quality.

Prescribed burning provides many benefits and is essential to maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. This prescribed fire is a follow up to the previous hand thinning treatments within the units. 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.

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 fire 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:

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