The Bureau of Indian Affairs Fort Apache Agency Fire Management in coordination with the White Mountain Apache Tribe will conduct test broadcast burn operations today,October 11, 2019 within the Sevenmile burn unit contingent upon favorable weather conditions. If conditions are favorable they will continue treatment efforts throughout the weekend within the Sevenmile burn unit. The Sevenmile burn unit is located approximately 8 miles east of Whiteriver.

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.

Prescribed burning efforts will continue as long as weather conditions permit and targeted acres are completed. The next update will be on Tuesday, October 15, 2019. If you have any questions regarding our upcoming prescribed burning efforts, you can call Candy Lupe, Public Information Officer at (928) 338-5425

Prepare your pipes, pets and plants for the freeze expected in the White Mountains for this evening.

Springerville, AZ, October 7, 2019 – For Immediate Release. The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests’ Black Mesa Ranger District plans to conduct burning operations within Burn Blocks 13,17,19,20 of the Nagel Forest Health Prescribed Burn area, if weather conditions allow, from October 7 to October 18. Burn Block 13 and 17 will be West of FR 717, South of FR 100, and East of FR 9429. Burn Blocks 19 and 20 will be along FR 169, West of FR 180 and the 9401 and East of FR 9412R and South of FR 9403Q and FR 100. The burn will encompass approximately 2,636 acres.

Once ignition occurs, crews will be on scene from ignition until there is no longer a threat of escape from the project boundaries.

This project is in partnership with the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to provide forest restoration and health to the Rocky Mountain Elk, mule deer, and other wildlife species that frequent the area.

Prescribed burning provides many benefits and is essential to maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. This prescribed fire is a follow up to previous mechanical treatments within parts of the unit. 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.

Smoke will be visible from the surrounding communities of Forest Lakes, Heber/Overgaard, and Winslow including Hwy 260 and I-40.

For questions or concerns please contact the Black Mesa Ranger District at (928) 535-7300, or dial 311 for the Northeastern Arizona Public Information System.