Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests Pierce prescribed fire update

Release Date: Sep 29, 2023

SPRINGERVILLE, Ariz. – Sept. 29, 2023 – Fire managers have completed ignitions on the 3,044-acre Pierce prescribed fire on the Black Mesa Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. The focus now will be to patrol and monitor the fire until it’s declared out. The prescribed fire area is located 1.5 miles south of Heber-Overgaard off Forest Road 51.

Fire crews used Forest Road 51, Forest Road 166, Forest Road 125, Forest Road 124 for the project boundaries, maintaining a low to moderate rate of spread, cleaning forest debris and reducing hazardous fuels. The goal is to improve forest resiliency against future high-severity wildfires that can threaten communities, lives and local economies.

These landscape fuels treatments align with the Forest Service's 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to increase the use of fire on the landscape as well as other treatments to improve forest health.  Some smoke will linger within the prescribed fire project area until the vegetation is completely consumed.

Visit the A-S National Forests website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf  and follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs

 

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