Springerville, AZ –January 24, 2018; —The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests’ Springerville Ranger District will be burning slash piles January 25, 2018. The piles are located west of Greer and Forest Road 87. Scattered piles will be burned across roughly 41 acres of forest land. The slash piles are a product of a recent thinning project intended to reduce hazardous fuels adjacent to the community of Greer. Ignition is planned for one day only. Smoke may be visible in Greer, along State Highway 260, and Forest Road 87. In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to use caution when traveling in the vicinity of the pile burn as smoke may reduce visibility in the area.

Prescribed burning provides many benefits and is essential to maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. 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. Crews will be on scene from ignition until there is no longer a threat of escape from the project boundaries. Prescribed fire operations are subject to cancelation due to unfavorable weather conditions.

For questions or concerns please contact the Springerville Ranger District at (928) 333-6200, or dial 311 to reach the Northeastern Arizona Public Information System. Also, check out our website at www.fs.usda.gov/asnf or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs/

Vernon Fire Department will be conducting a prescribed burn on 1-19-18, around county road 3137. Smoke will be visable from Hwy US 60 and surrounding areas.

Expect delays at US 60/State Route 77 intersection

As the widening project along US 60 between State Route 77 and 40th Street in Show Low wraps up for the winter, drivers should allow extra time next week as crews stripe the road and put the traffic signal at US 60 and SR 77 in its final configuration.

• Beginning Monday, Dec. 18, and continuing through Thursday, Dec. 21, crews are scheduled to stripe US 60 in the project area. Because overnight temperatures are too cold to apply striping material, work must occur during daytime hours.
• Beginning at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19, the traffic signals at the intersection of US 60 and SR 77, known locally as Penrod Road, will be shut off as crews program the new signal timing to accommodate the new road configuration. A uniformed officer and flaggers will direct traffic through the intersection. Drivers should be prepared for delays and allow plenty of extra travel time. Signal work is scheduled for completion by the end of the day.

Crews will return next summer to lay the final layer of asphalt and complete some sidewalk and landscaping work.

Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen factors. For more information, please call the ADOT Project Information Line at 855.712.8530 or email Projects@azdot.gov. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except while driving.