Bureau of Indian Affairs, Wildland Fire Management News Release
Contact: Candy Lupe, Public Information Officer, (928) 205-5662
Email: candy.lupe@bia.gov

April 18, 2023

HOP-COT SPRING PRESCRIBED BURN PLANNED FOR APRIL 20, 2023
Whiteriver, Arizona: The Bureau of Indian Affairs Fort Apache Agency Fire Management in coordination with the White Mountain Apache Tribe are planning to conduct prescribed burning within the Hop-Cot burn unit on Thursday, April 20, 2023. If conditions are favorable, active ignitions will continue through Saturday, April 23, 2023.
The Hop-Cot burn unit is located approximately 8 miles southwest of Show Low, Arizona and just west of Forestdale. A total of 806 acres are targeted to be treated. Active ignition will take one to three days, with some smoke visible in the burn area for up to a week after ignition operations are completed. The purpose of this burn is to reduce hazardous fuels and the chance for future high-intensity wildfires.
Nearby residents should expect smoke in the vicinity. Drivers should pay extra attention while traveling through Highway 60 or adjacent to this burn unit. Officials expect smoke to dissipate quickly during burn days, but some smoke could linger in valley bottoms and drainages for short durations. If you are driving along the Hop-Cot prescribed burn area, please drive with care!
If you have any questions regarding our prescribed burning efforts, you can call Candy Lupe, Public Information Officer at (928) 338-5425 or you can log onto BIA Fort Apache Fort Apache Agency’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/BIAFAAFireMgt.

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SAINT JOHNS, AZ–  On Saturday, June 11, 2022, it became very clear there were communication failures across the White Mountains. Upon further investigation and contact with our state partners, we have been informed that there was a Frontier failure. The reason that Verizon service is also down is because Frontier provides the backhaul for the Verizon phone system.

Frontier has investigated and found damaged fiber lines. They worked to replace the fiber, but upon completion, it was discovered that another section of fiber had been damaged. Frontier is sending personnel out again to repair the fiber.

All residents, regardless of service provider are still able to contact 911 in case of an emergency. Please ONLY call 911 if there is an emergency.

At this time, there is no estimated time of service restoration, but all updates will be put on 311info.net and our Apache County Emergency Management Facebook page.

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