Prescribed burns near Flagstaff next week to
produce noticeable smoke plumes close to town
Flagstaff, Ariz., Oct. 14, 2016, For Immediate Release — Fire managers are planning several prescribed burn projects next week, likely starting Monday (Oct. 17). These prescribed burns are conducted in order to help protect communities from severe wildfires by reducing forest fuel accumulation in strategic areas around northern Arizona communities, and also reintroduce fire into the Ponderosa pine ecosystem for restoration purposes.
Two of the projects—Eastside and Griffith Springs—were postponed earlier this week due to unfavorable weather conditions and poor ventilation. Conditions are predicted to be suitable on Monday for burning and good ventilation. The Eastside and Griffith Springs projects will be close to Flagstaff and produce smoke plumes that will be very noticeable to those in and around Flagstaff. However, the smoke should rise and move toward the northeast, dissipating by the end of the day. Ignitions usually begin about 9 a.m.
More information about these an other planned projects are below. Keep in mind that the following projects are planned on different days that may overlap throughout next week, but are also dependent upon weather and wind conditions, so all or some of them could be cancelled if conditions are not suitable.
HORSESHOE / PETE PROJECT
When: Planned ignition will be Monday through Friday (Oct. 17 to Oct. 21) if conditions are suitable for burning and the weather allows.
Where: North of Kachina Peak near Forest Service Road 418.
Size: Approximately 4,000 acres.
Impacts: Winds are expected to flow toward the east and northeast most of the week, so smoke will be visible to motorists along U.S. Highways 180 and 89, as well as Wupatki National Monument, Painted Desert and Navajo reservation. Nighttime impacts are possible to the communities of Tuba City and Cameron.
EASTSIDE PROJECT (Pine Springs)
When: Planned ignition will be Monday (Oct. 17) if conditions are suitable for burning and weather allows. Duration is expected to be one day.
Where: Near Pine Canyon subdivision and the Heckethorn community; approximately two miles south of Little America.
Size: Approximately 375 acres.
Impacts: Winds are expected to flow toward the east and northeast most of next week, so smoke will be visible to motorists along Interstate 40, as well as residents of Flagstaff. With the smoke traveling toward the east/northeast, it may impact the following subdivisions in and around Flagstaff: Harold Ranch, Continental, Pine Canyon, Heckethorn and Walnut Canyon.
GRIFFITH SPRINGS PROJECT (Kachina Village)
When: Planned ignition will be Monday (Oct. 17) if conditions are suitable for burning and weather allows. Duration is expected to be one day.
Where: Approximately one mile northwest of Kachina Village near Forest Highlands.
Size: Approximately 300 acres.
Impacts: Good ventilation is expected to push smoke to the north/northeast during the day and will be visible to the Forest highland Golf Club, Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, Flagstaff residents and motorists on Arizona Highway 89A, Interstate Highway 17 and I-40.
UPPER BEAVER CREEK PROJECT (Stoneman Lake area)
When: Planned ignition will be Wednesday (Oct. 19) as weather and conditions allow. Duration is expected to be one day.
Where: Immediately west and south of Stoneman Lake.
Size: Approximately 870 acres.
Impacts: Smoke may impact Stoneman Lake and Mormon Lake communities to the north, and the Discovery Channel Telescope to the east. Cooling temperatures in the evenings may cause smoke to settle and drain down nearby canyons, potentially impacting the Village of Oak Creek.
BLUE RIDGE URBAN INTERFACE PROJECT
When: Planned ignition will be Tuesday and Wednesday (Oct. 18 & 19) if conditions are suitable for burning and weather allows.
Where: Two miles east of the Mogollon Rim Ranger District office.
Size: Approximately 2,000 acres.
Impacts: Good ventilation is expected to push smoke to the north/northeast during the day and may be visible to Happy Jack visitors, Clint Wells residents, others along the rim country, along with motorists on Forest Service Road 300, Arizona Route 87 and Lake Mary Road (Forest Highway 3).
EAST CLEAR CREEK PROJECT
When: Planned ignition will be Monday (Oct. 17) if conditions are suitable for burning and weather allows. Duration is expected to be one day.
Where: In the Mogollon Rim Ranger District south of C.C. Cragin Reservoir (formerly Blue Ridge Reservoir).
Size: Approximately the last 700 acres.
Impacts: Good ventilation is expected to push smoke to the north/northeast during the day and may be visible to Happy Jack visitors, Clint Wells residents, others along the rim country, along with motorists on Forest Service Road 300, Arizona Route 87 and Lake Mary Road (Forest Highway 3).
The public and media can get quick notification of when a prescribed burn or any other activity is happening on the Coconino National Forest by following us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CoconinoNF. When ignition of a prescribed burn begins, we update our Twitter account so the public can know why smoke is in the air and where it is coming from.
Notifications of upcoming prescribed burns are also provided regularly by news releases throughout the season and by the following online resources:
• Sign up to receive news releases: www.fs.fed.us/news/subscription.shtml
• Inciweb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/unit/303/
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/CoconinoNF
• Coconino website: www.coconinonationalforest.us, (Under News and Events)
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George F. Jozens
Deputy Public Affairs Officer
Forest Service
Coconino National Forest, Supervisors Office
p: 928-527-3412
gjozens@fs.fed.us
1924 S. Thompson St
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
www.fs.fed.us
Caring for the land and serving people
