1/4/18 – The Bureau of Indian Affairs Fort Apache Agency Fire Management in coordination with the White Mountain Apache Tribe willconduct prescribed burn operations beginning Friday, January 5, 2018 through Tuesday, January 9, 2018. Prescribed burning efforts will be contingent upon favorable weather conditions.
A total of 3087 acres are planned to be treated within two burn units within the eastern portion of the Reservation:
• 1001 acres are targeted for the Odart North Burn Unit, between Mountain Lion Canyon
• 2086 acres are targeted for the Maverick Burn Unit, south of Pacheta Lake and north of the oldMaverick Town.

These small prescribed fires will mimic natural fires by reducing hazardous fuels accumulations, and reintroducing fire into a fire dependent system; recycling nutrients and increasing habitat diversity. Fire personnel will conduct broadcast burning within these burn blocks. Broadcast burns involve applying fire across the forest floor. Flames make their way along the surface, consuming accumulated needles, leaves, branches, and logs while recycling nutrients back into the soil. Broadcast burns typically produce noticeable smoke.

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. The Burn Blocks are closed to the public throughout the duration of the burning operations. For more information, contact Candy Lupe at (928) 338-5425.

Springerville, AZ, December 13, 2017 – For Immediate Release. The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests’ Lakeside Ranger District will be conducting a 442 acre prescribed burn within the Sepulveda unit of the Los Burros broadcast burn area beginning on 12/14 and continuing through 12/15 if weather conditions allow.
The Sepulveda Unit is about five miles south of Vernon, along Forest Service Road (FSR) 96, and is surrounded by FSR 6, FSR 6H and FSR 96B.
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, and U.S. Highway 60, in Round Valley, Vernon and Show Low. In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to obey all traffic signs and use caution when traveling in the vicinity of the prescribed fire burn units as firefighters and fire-related traffic may be in the area.
The Sepulveda unit has received some forest thinning within the past three to eight years, and this prescribed burn continues the restoration treatment that is needed. It provides for habitat diversity, recycles plant nutrients into the soil and encourages new growth for a variety of plants used by wildlife and livestock. Prescribed burning removes hazardous fuels and reduces the threat of large-scale wildfires, providing improved protection for the community of Vernon from wildfires that may start southeast of town. Crews will be on scene from ignition until there is no longer a threat of escape from the project boundaries.
Air quality considerations are an integral part of prescribed fire, and it is the goal of forest managers to minimize smoke impacts to our communities while still accomplishing forest health and fuels reduction goals. Arizona residents can view air quality across the state using the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Portable Particulate Monitors.
For questions or concerns please contact the Lakeside Ranger District at (928) 368-2100, or call the Northeastern Arizona Public Information System at 928-333-3412.

Timber Mesa Fire and Medical are actively working a brush fire just off Porter Mountain Road NE of Highway 260 in the Billy Creek area. Forward progression has been stopped and the crews are in the mopping up stage. Citizens are urged to avoid this area as much as possible to minimize traffic congestion while crews conduct their operations. Peterson subdivision residents who left the area due to the brush fire may now return to their homes