10-12-16 10:00 pm
The Fort Apache Reservation has been approved for 11 prescribed burns. The Black Mesa Ranger District is having a prescribed burn (Nagel) over this week and probably next week weather permitting. The smoke from Nagel may affect Holbrook & Winslow. The smoke from Hop Cot on Fort Apache may affect Forestdale and been seen on Highway 60.

The Fill Fire is continuing to burn southwest of Pinedale in the previous Rodeo-Chediski Fire perimeter off the Forest Service 132 and 300 roads on the Lakeside Ranger District.
After the fire area received precipitation, crews used the moisture to keep fire intensity low and within the designated fire lines. The crews will continue to use managed ignitions in the interior of the fire boundary into the weekend as weather conditions allow. Once ignitions are completed, fire personnel will continue to monitor the fire. Safety will continue to be the number one priority for personnel as they near the completion of the project.
There may be minor smoke impacts to residents in Pinedale and Clay Springs. Smoke may also visible from State Highway 60 and U.S. Highway 260, as well as the communities of Heber-Overgaard, Linden, Pinedale, Snowflake, Taylor, Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside.
Information on the Fill Fire can be found on InciWeb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5036/. The public can obtain additional fire information at Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests http://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf or Northeastern Arizona Public Information System https://311info.net/ or call 311 or 928-333-3412

10/6/16 – The Bureau of Indian Affairs Fort Apache Agency Fire Management in coordination with the White Mountain Apache Tribe will begin prescribed burn operations Tuesday, October 11, 2016. Approximately 11,500 acres are targeted to be treated by either pile burning or broadcast burning within several burn units on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.

The late fall prescribe burning conditions have low to moderate fire intensity which produces beneficial post-fire effects. These small prescribed fires will help reduce fuel accumulation from logging and thinning projects, decrease the risk of high intensity wildfire, and to protect communities. Broadcast burns involve applying fire across the forest floor. Flames make their way along the surface, consuming accumulated needles, leaves, branches, and logs while recycling nutrients back into the soil. Broadcast burns typically produce the most noticeable smoke.

Nearby residents should expect smoke in the vicinity and drivers should pay extra attention while traveling through or adjacent to burn areas particularly along highway 73 from Post Office Canyon to Hondah and State Route 260 east of Hondah. 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.

Prescribed burning efforts will continue as long as weather conditions permit and targeted acres are completed. Location and timing of burns will be identified on a weekly basis. If you have any questions regarding our upcoming prescribed burning efforts, you can call Candy Lupe, Public Information Officer at (928) 338-5425.