With the possibility of increased moisture in the coming weeks, including snow at the higher elevations, fire managers on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests plan to conduct pile burns in several locations across the forests.

The piles to be burned are the result of prior efforts to gather and stack slash (excess woody debris) from thinning projects and roadside hazard trees in the Wallow Fire burned area. Wetter ground conditions are conducive to carrying out this type of prescribed fire because the additional moisture helps prevent the piles from burning outside of the intended areas.

A slash pile is made up of vegetative material that has been concentrated into a pile measuring no more than 6′ wide by 6′ tall.

Locations of burns are:

Greer near the burn pit

Water Canyon, Forest Road 74

Southeast of Vernon, Forest Road 64

Please be advised that smoke will be visible in the surrounding communities.

State Route 473 to Hawley Lake is the first of three highways in the White Mountains that will shut down this winter, beginning on Thursday, November 15th.

State Route 261 between Big Lake and the State Route 260 junction is scheduled to close on December 17th.

State Route 273 between Sunrise Park and Big Lake will close December 17th.  The four mile long portion of SR 273 between SR 260 and Sunrise Park will remain open to provide access to the ski area.

Heavy Snowfall could force earlier closures.

HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 8 PM MST FRIDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FLAGSTAFF HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND WARNING…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 8 PM MST FRIDAY. THE HIGH WIND WARNING REPLACED THE HIGH WIND WATCH.
* TIMING…STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL DEVELOP AHEAD OF A COLD   FRONT FROM 9 AM MST THROUGH 8 PM MST FRIDAY.
* WINDS…SUSTAINED WINDS 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS FROM 45 TO 55   MPH WITH POSSIBLE WIND GUSTS AS HIGH AS 60 MPH POSSIBLE.
* IMPACTS…STRONG WINDS MAY CAUSE AREAS OF BLOWING DUST   REDUCING VISIBILITY AS LOW AS HALF MILE TO A MILE AT TIMES.   TRAVEL WILL BECOME DIFFICULT FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING…WITH SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS GREATER THAN 40 MPH OR GUSTS GREATER THAN 58 MPH. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN CAUSE PROPERTY DAMAGE. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS. ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION IS ON THE WEB AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/FLAGSTAFF.
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