Whiteriver, Arizona: In October 2022, fire resources treated 745 acres of piles within the Bull Flat burn unit. Pile burning operations will resume in the Bull Flat burn unit on Friday, December 9, 2022.

The Bull Flat burn unit is located in the far northwest corner of the Reservation. A total of 580 acres are targeted to be treated. Active ignition will take one to three days, with some smoke visible in the burn areas for up to a week after ignition operations are completed. The prescribed burn will occur in previously thinned areas where materials have been piled for burning. The purpose of this burn is to reduce hazardous fuels and the chance for future high-intensity wildfires.

If you have any questions regarding our upcoming 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.

**EXPECT INCREASED SMOKE IN PINETOP-LAKESIDE***

Fire personnel from the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests plan to burn piles at the Lakeside Ranger District and Pinedale Work Center over the next few days, smoke is expected to be visible during this time and the coming weeks.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs Fort Apache Agency Fire Management in coordination with the White Mountain Apache Tribe will resume pile burning in the Tonto South burn unit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

If conditions are favorable, they will continue through with pile burning until the completion of the unit.

The Tonto South burn unit is located in the southeast corner of the Reservation. Fire personnel treated 2,623 acres a week and a half ago. The unit has approximately 11, 344 acres remaining to be treated. The prescribed burn will occur in previously logged areas where materials have been piled for burning. The purpose of this burn is to reduce hazardous fuels and the chance for future high-intensity wildfires. Prescribed burning activity is dependent upon the availability of fire personnel, weather conditions, fuel moisture levels and smoke management.

Smoke will be present during and after burning operations. Thank you in advance for driving carefully and watching for firefighters and equipment near the road. 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.