Apache-Sitgreaves prescribed burns planned

Release Date: Mar 29, 2023

Contact(s): Cydney Janssen, Forest Public Affairs Officer 928-245-3058

Multiple burns planned across the forests

Springerville, AZ, March 23, 2023 — The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests is currently working to begin multiple prescribed burn operations beginning March 27 through April 15. The following prescribed fires will be initiated if conditions and approvals allow:

Black Mesa Ranger District:

• Black Mesa / Camp Shadow Pines Piles - Location: approximately 2 miles west of Heber/Overgaard at Camp Shadow Pines admin site. Total Acres: 2. Camp Shadow Pines Piles Map
• Black Mesa / Hidden Piles – Location: Approximately 3 miles west of the community of Forest Lakes and adjacent to Willow Spring Lake along Hwy 260. Total Acres: 67. Hidden Piles Map

Clifton Ranger District:

• Mesa Rx – Location: Approximately 16 miles north of Morenci, AZ. Project boundaries are Turkey Creek/Cow Canyon to the east, FR 515 (Pine Flat Rd) to the north and west and FR 217 (Upper Eagle Creek Rd) to the south.  This project is planned to work with partners from AZ Game and Fish and Freeport McMoran, Inc. Total Acres: 10,300. Mesa RX Reentry Vicinity Map

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, recycles plant nutrients into the soil, and encourages new growth for various plants used by wildlife and livestock. They also reduce forest surface fuels which lessens the threat of large-scale wildfire impacts on private lands and communities.

Smoke will be a consideration in the vicinity of the prescribed burns depending on the weather and caution should be used when traveling in the area. Information on air quality and active prescribed burns 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.