Fort Apache Agency continues to conduct prescribed burning on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. Since October 9, 2019, a total of 14,868 acres has been treated within several burn units. Broadcast burning treatments will be conducted in several burn units until November 23, 2019 upon favorable conditions. Pile burning treatments will begin after November 23, 2019 within the Rodeo-Chediski Burned area.

This week prescribed burn resources are planning to treat burn blocks within the following prescribed burn units:

Turkey Burn Unit (10 miles east of Whiteriver): Prescribed burn efforts will continue over the next two days.

Hondah burn unit (3 miles east of McNary): Resources will continue to treat the remainder of the burn blocks within this burn unit today and tomorrow.

Soldier burn unit (8 miles east of McNary): Resources will begin treatment efforts on Wednesday, November 6, 2019.

Sevenmile burn unit (8 miles east of Whiteriver): Resources will resume prescribed burn efforts within this burn unit on Wednesday, November 6, 2019.

Maverick burn unit (25 miles east of Whiteriver): Resources will resume prescribed burn efforts within this burn unit on Wednesday, November 6, 2019.

Nearby residents should expect smoke in the vicinity and drivers should pay extra attention while traveling through or adjacent to burn areas. 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 next update will be on Monday, November 11, 2019. The public should avoid entering the burn units for their safety and fire fighter safety. If you have any questions regarding our upcoming prescribed burning efforts, you can call Candy Lupe, Public Information Officer at (928) 338-5425, (928) 205-5662 or you can log onto BIA Fort Apache Agency’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/BIAFAAFireMgt.

Homestead Fire

Start Date: October 27, 2019

Size: 220 Acres                  Cause: Under Investigation

Location: Near Forest Service Road 117/Whiting Ranch Area

Resources: 2-Engines, 1-Water Tender, and 2-Overhead

The Homestead Fire is located on the Apache National Forest, Springerville Ranger District, near Forest Service Road 117; specifically near the Whiting Ranch area, and was discovered Sunday, October 27, 2019. Resources from the USDA US Forest Service remain on scene. All lines are being held. The crews continue to mop up the edges. Smoke remains visible from nearby residential areas and surrounding communities.

No structures are threatened. The cause of the Homestead Fire remains under investigation.

Antelope Fire

Start Date: October 27, 2019

Size: 81 Acres                    Cause: Under Investigation

Location: Southwest of Vernon near Forest Service Road 3 and 4

Resources: 2-Engines, 1-Water Tender, and 1-State Crew

The Antelope Fire is located on the Sitgreaves National Forest, Lakeside Ranger District, off of Forest Service Road 3 and 4, southwest of Vernon about 4-6 miles was discovered Sunday, October 27, 2019. Resources from the USDA US Forest Service and one state crew remain on scene. The line continues to be held. The crews continues to mop up the edges.

No structures are threatened. The cause of the Antelope Fire remains under investigation.

***POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE***

Show Low, AZ – October 25, 2019 – Lakeside Ranger District on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests will be conducting a prescribed burn in the Morgan Tank Unit, west of Show Low. Total acres for the unit are 2,066 acres and will be divided into smaller units to minimize smoke impacts. This prescribed burn will start October 29, and continue to Saturday, November 2, 2019 as weather conditions allow and will continue until the project is complete.

This area last burned during the Rodeo-Chediski Wildfire of 2002. The Morgan Tank Unit is about one mile south of SR 260 and ½ mile west of the Bison Ridge and Torreon developments. The burn is surrounded by Forest Service Roads 135, FSR 300 and FSR 140.

Initial ignition may last for 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 Show Low, Pinedale, Linden and Pinetop-Lakeside. 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.

Prescribed burning provides many benefits and is essential to maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. An important part of forest restoration is using low to moderate intensity fire. 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.

This Rx burn will provide protection for community of Show Low and Linden from wildfires that start southwest of town.

Crews will be on the scene from ignition until there is no longer a threat of escape from the project boundaries.

See the map: MorganTankRxBurnPublicInfoMap_20191018

Questions or concerns? Please contact Lakeside Ranger District for the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests at 928-368-2100, or visit the ASNFs website at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/asnfs or join the conversation on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs/or follow us on Twitter @A_SNFs

Fire restrictions: The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest is not currently in fire restrictions. Visitors are reminded to be very careful with fire. Never leave a fire unattended – even for a short time.

Additional Information on wildfire and wildfire safety can be found at:

• Northeastern Arizona Public Information System: https://311info.net/ or call 311 or 928.333.3412
• Arizona Fire Restrictions: http://firerestrictions.us/az/
• Fire Restrictions and Red Flag Alerts: http://wildlandfire.az.gov/
• Wildfires Near Me: http://www.wildfiresnearme.wfmrda.com/