Pile burns to continue Wednesday, Friday, and next week

Release Date: Dec 30, 2014

Pending favorable conditions and sufficient snow from the upcoming storm, crews are planning to continue prescribed pile burns in various locations across the Coconino National Forest.

 

Wednesday crews may burn a miscellaneous debris pile at HOCHDERFFER HILLS east of Hwy 180 off North Hart Prairie Road, as well as piles at the MOUNTAINAIRE PROJECT south of Flagstaff between Lake Mary and the community of Mountainaire. Smoke from the Mountainaire Piles will be minimal and may be visible from I-17 during ignition.

 

Friday and through next week if conditions allow, crews are planning to focus efforts on the EASTSIDE / FLAGSTAFF WATERSHED PROTECTION PROEJCT justnorth of Flagstaff on Elden Lookout Rd and Schultz Pass Rd, and the HART PRAIRIE PROJECT located east of Hwy 180, south of Hart Prairie Road behind The Nature Conservancy Hart Prairie Preserve.

 

Smoke from the Eastside/FWPP piles will be noticeable from Elden Lookout and Schultz Pass Roads, nearby trails including the Arizona Trail, Rocky Ridge, and Lower Oldham Trails, as well as Buffalo Park. Some smoke will likely settle in these areas overnight.

 

The Hart Prairie piles will be visible from Arizona Snowbowl and Hwy 180.

 

 

            Prescribed fires are essential tools for restoring the forests in our fire-adapted ecosystem, and smoke is an unavoidable byproduct of these vital efforts. Fire managers strive to minimize smoke impacts to the community as much as possible. They try to burn when winds and other atmospheric conditions will push the majority of smoke away from homes; utilize slash in other ways as much as possible such as filler layer at the landfill; and they work closely with ADEQ, partners in the Ponderosa Fire Advisory Council, as well as neighboring forests to monitor air quality.

 

The Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project is the voter-approved, multi-agency effort aimed at reducing the risk of severe fire and flooding in the Rio de Flag and Lake Mary watersheds. Learn more at www.flagstaffwatershedprotection.org