June 16, 2015; —The Lakeside Ranger District will be conducting a 2,700 acre prescribed burn within the McCleave unit of the Rodeo-Chediski fire area during the week of June 15, south of Pinedale Estates.

The McCleave Unit is about one mile south of Pinedale Estates, which is two miles south of Pinedale on Forest Service Road 130. The burn is surrounded by Forest Service Roads (130, 263, and 300). The legal description is: T10N, R19E, Sections 25, 26, 35, 36 and T10N, R20E Sections 29, 30, 31, 32.

Ignition is expected to last about five days with daily smoke impact anticipated within area drainages. Smoke will be visible in the local area, from Arizona State Highway 260, in Overgaard and Show Low.

The purpose of the prescribed burn is to reduce forest fuels and tree densities. In addition, reducing the risk of uncharacteristically intense fire behavior, and to maintain and improve wildlife habitat and browse.

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

June 12, 2015; —The Springerville Ranger District was delayed due to weather and is planning again on burning next week. They plan to burn approximately 500 acres just southeast of Apache County road 3140, which is the road leading to Vernon.
Smoke will be seen from Round Valley, Arizona State Highway 260, U.S. Highway 60 and along Forest Road 61. The burn is to enhance wildlife habitat and watershed conditions, as well as, to promote forest health. This prescribed fire is in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Habitat Partnership Committee.
All prescribed burns are approved through the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) before ignitions begin. The ADEQ monitors air quality and determines whether or not it will be a good day for smoke dispersion. Breaking larger burn areas into smaller acreages often limits the amount of smoke that impacts an area. 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.
Crews will be on scene from the beginning of ignitions until dark and through the weekends monitoring fire behavior and weather conditions.
Questions or concerns contact Rob Lever, Springerville Ranger District Fire Management Officer at (928) 333-6203 or by calling 311 or 928-333-3412. Also, check out the ASNFs website at: www.fs.usda.gov/asnf

6/11/15 – A low pressure system moving through Northern Arizona combined with moisture still remaining from Tropical Depression Blanca will bring scattered showers and thunderstorms to the area today.

The most activity will be north of the I-40 corridor and east of Flagstaff. Some storms over Navajo and Apache counties may become strong today containing hail up to an inch in diameter and briefly torrential rainfall.

Areas west and south of Flagstaff will see less activity and any storms that do form will not be as strong.

Friday through Wednesday…
Expect scattered afternoon and early evening showers and thunderstorms Friday and Saturday followed by a drying and warming trend beginning Sunday.