Pile Burning south of Alpine along FS 576

Apache-Sitgreaves, Alpine Ranger District plans pile burning

Springerville, AZ, April 21, 2023 — The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests is currently working to begin District wide prescribed fire pile burning on the Alpine Ranger District, beginning 4/26/2023 and continuing until April 30, 2023. The following prescribed fires will be initiated if conditions and approvals allow:

  • Approximately 25 piles are located approximately 22 miles south of the town of Alpine along Forest Service Road 576. The project boundary includes Forest Service Road 576 and Hwy # 191.  (Please see attached map.) Total Acres: 25.

Our land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape. Prescribed fires provide habitat diversity, recycle plant nutrients into the soil, and encourage new growth for various plants used by wildlife and livestock. They also reduce forest surface fuels which lessen the threat of large-scale wildfire impacts on private lands and communities.

Smoke will be a consideration in the vicinity of the prescribed fires depending on the weather and caution should be used when traveling in the area. Information on air quality and active prescribed fires can be found on Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s webpage: https://azdeq.gov/.

Stay up to date on news from the A-S at our website https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf, on Twitter @A_SNFs and on facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs.

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