Springerville, AZ –September 14, 2015; —The Springerville Ranger District is planning to start burning Monday, Thursday, September 17, and continue periodically through the month as conditions allow. The plan is to burn approximately 900 acres southeast of Apache County road 3140, south east of Vernon.

Smoke may be seen from Round Valley, Arizona State Highway 260, U.S. Highway 60 and along Forest Road 61. All prescribed burns are approved through the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) before ignitions begin. The ADEQ monitors air quality and determines whether conditions are good or not good for smoke dispersion. The plan is to break larger burn areas into smaller acreages to limit the amount of smoke that impacts an area. Generally smoke will be in the air for short durations and considerably less than what wildfires typically produce. If you are sensitive to smoke or have respiratory problems, stay indoors if possible. For more information on protecting your health when it’s smoky outside, please go to: https://nmtracking.org/en/environ_exposure/fire-and-smoke/#xEPHT__fivemile__1329.

The objectives of the burn are to enhance wildlife habitat and watershed conditions, promote forest health, and by reducing fuel loading help protect communities from future high severity wildfire. The prescribed fire is being conducted in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Habitat Partnership Committee, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Mule Deer Foundation.

Crews will be on scene from the beginning of ignitions until dark and through the weekends monitoring fire behavior and weather conditions.

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