Bureau of Indian Affairs, Wildland Fire Management News ReleaseContact: Candy Lupe, Public Information Officer, (928) 205-5662Email: candy.lupe@bia.goApril 18, 2023

HOP-COT SPRING PRESCRIBED BURN PLANNED FOR APRIL 20, 2023

Whiteriver, Arizona: The Bureau of Indian Affairs Fort Apache Agency Fire Management in coordination with the White Mountain Apache Tribe are planning to conduct prescribed burning within the Hop-Cot burn unit on Thursday, April 20, 2023. If conditions are favorable, active ignitions will continue through Saturday, April 23, 2023. The Hop-Cot burn unit is located approximately 8 miles southwest of Show Low, Arizona and just west of Forestdale. A total of 806 acres are targeted to be treated. Active ignition will take one to three days, with some smoke visible in the burn area for up to a week after ignition operations are completed. The purpose of this burn is to reduce hazardous fuels and the chance for future high-intensity wildfires. Nearby residents should expect smoke in the vicinity. Drivers should pay extra attention while traveling through Highway 60 or adjacent to this burn unit. Officials expect smoke to dissipate quickly during burn days, but some smoke could linger in valley bottoms and drainages for short durations. If you are driving along the Hop-Cot prescribed burn area, please drive with care!

If you have any questions regarding our prescribed burning efforts, you can call Candy Lupe, Public Information Officer at (928) 338-5425 or you can log onto BIA Fort Apache Fort Apache Agency’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/BIAFAAFireMgt.