News Release
Media Contact: Pamela Baltimore
928-333-4301
pmbaltimore@fs.fed.us

Springerville Ranger District burning near Vernon

Springerville, AZ –August 4, 2015; — The Springerville Ranger District Fire staff plans to burn 73 acres of slash south of Vernon on Wednesday, if weather conditions are suitable. Smoke may be visible from Round Valley, Arizona State Highway 260, and U.S. Highway 60.

The management objective is to enhance wildlife habitat and watershed conditions, as well as, to promote forest health. This prescribed fire is in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Habitat Partnership Committee.

All prescribed burns are approved through the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) before ignitions begin. The ADEQ monitors air quality and determines whether or not it will be a good day for smoke dispersion. Breaking larger burn areas into smaller acreages often limits the amount of smoke that impacts an area. Although smoke from prescribed fire can still be a nuisance, it is usually for a shorter time and considerably less smoke than wildfires produce. If you are sensitive to smoke or have respiratory problems, stay indoors if possible.

Questions or concerns contact Cary Stock, Springerville Ranger District Assistant Fire Management Officer at (928) 333-6351 or by calling 311 or 928-333-3412. Also, check out the ASNFs website at: www.fs.usda.gov/asnf

8/3/15 – The first responders of Northeast Arizona are coming together this week to conduct a large full scale exercise. This will be a joint exercise with partners coming from all over Navajo and Apache Counties as well as state, federal and tribal responders. Northland Pioneer College has partnered with the first responders, Navajo County Emergency Management, Summit Regional Medical Center and many more in order to facilitate a real-to-life scenario.

The first responders in our communities want the citizens and visitors to know they are doing everything in their power to be ready in the event of a tragedy. While we certainly hope that nothing like Columbine would happen in our part of the world we are making sure that we are ready if it does.

This training exercise is a “Whole Community” effort. Students at the college will add to the realism by having make-up applied to resemble realistic wounds. Medical responders will evaluate and transport those ‘victims’ as they are triaged to the Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center. Summit in turn will ‘treat’ the victims as they would in real life to make sure they are also ready.

In addition to local responders, the 91^st Civil Support Team based out of Phoenix will combine efforts with the local responders to maintain their skills and enhance the working relationship they have built with area responders for the last several years. The U.S. Army North aided in the exercise with planning support and expertise.

This event is taking place August 5^th at the Northland Pioneer College Campus in Show Low and we would ask that the general public be aware of additional traffic in the area throughout the day. If it is possible to avoid the area it would aid in minimizing traffic delays.

FORESTDALE FIRE

Bureau of Indian Affairs, Wildland Fire Management
Contact: Candy Lupe, Public Information Officer, (928) 338-5425
July 22, 2015

Date started: July 16, 2015 Equipment: 2 Type 6 Engines, 1 Dozer
Location: South of Forestdale and south of the 65 road. Number of personnel: Type 2 IA Crew, Cibecue Fuels
Cause: Lightning Structures threatened: none
Size: 450 acres Fuel Type: Mixed Conifer, Ponderosa Pine, Juniper with a Manzanita and Oak brush understory.
Percent contained: 0%

Summary: The lightning-ignited Forestdale Fire is estimated to be approximately 450 acres. Fire behavior has been low due to recent precipitation. The Forestdale Fire is being managed to achieve natural resource benefits and to reduce hazardous fuels. Fire managers plan to manage the Forestdale Fire within predetermine boundaries (890 acres). Today, Fire Crews were conducting burn out operations.

Over the next few days, smoke may be more visible from highway 60 and surrounding communities. For updated information, you can call (928) 205-5662.