Active forest management continues across Coconino National Forest next week

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., April 25, 2025 — As part of important active forest management, fire managers are planning a number of prescribed burn projects next week to reduce hazardous forest fuels in strategic areas of the national forest to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires to many northern Arizona communities.

Prescribed burns are always dependent upon multiple conditions, including personnel availability, fuel conditions, weather and approval from the Arizona Department of Environment Quality. The burns may be changed or canceled last-minute if burn conditions do not meet criteria outlined in advance.

Should wind and weather conditions become unfavorable, ignitions will be halted, and project plans will be postponed, changed or canceled. If that occurs, the updates will be posted on our Coconino NF Prescribed Burn Projects InciWeb page, which is updated any time new information is available. The following projects are listed in chronological order. .

Horseshoe- Maxwell Springs

• Dates: April 28 or 29, 2025.
• Location: Flagstaff Ranger District. 1.5 miles north of Bellemont.
• Size: 369 acres.
• Type of Burn: Broadcast, maintenance burn. (See Methods & Types of Prescribed Burns dropdown menu for explanation.)
• Smoke Impacts: Possible smoke impacts to U.S. Highway 180 in and around the Fort Valley area during the day and at night smoke impacts possible to Bellemont and I-40 in the Bellemont area.
• Why: This prescribed burn will reduce hazardous fuels in the area, creating a fire-resilient ecosystem to help protect the communities of Bellemont, Fort Valley, and Flagstaff from catastrophic wildfires.
• Notes: An area closure is in effect until April 30.

Blue Ridge Urban Interface

• Date: April 28 to May 1, 2025.
• Location: Mogollon Rim Ranger District. 7 miles northeast of Clints Well.
• Size: 3,181 acres total over two days.
• Type of Burn: Broadcast, maintenance burn.
• Smoke Impacts: In the evening and early morning hours after the burn, smoke will likely impact some areas of Route 87 near the burn. Smoke may also impact the greater Blue Ridge and Clear Creek Pines communities.
• Why: This prescribed burn will reduce hazardous fuels accumulated around the community of Blue Ridge and limit the potential for catastrophic wildfires. This project incorporates and develops a protection plan for the Blue Ridge Community.
• Notes: The Arizona National Scenic Trail will be rerouted to Forest Road 211 to go around the burn area.

West Fork Crater Sinks

• Dates: April 30 or May 1, 2025.
• Location: Flagstaff Ranger District.  13 miles southwest of Flagstaff.
• Size: 1,795 acres total (955 acres of national forest; 840 acres of state land).
• Type of Burn: Broadcast, with components of initial entry and maintenance.
• Smoke Impacts: Smoke impacts should stay localized to the burn area with a slight chance of overnight impacts to U.S. Highway 89A in the Fry Canyon area near Forest Road 535A. Possible impacts to Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek—especially in the evening hours after the burn.
• Why: This burn will reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire southwest of Flagstaff by reducing hazardous forest fuels accumulation.
• Notes: The intent is to complete this burn in one day on April 30 with the use of aerial ignitions but is weather dependent.

Horseshoe- Kendrick

• Dates: May 1-2, 2025.
• Location: Flagstaff Ranger District. 17 miles northwest of Flagstaff on the west side of Kendrick Park.
• Size: 2,761 acres (1,398 acres planned for May 1 and 1,363 acres on May 2).
• Type of Burn: Broadcast, with components of initial entry and maintenance.
• Smoke Impacts: Smoke impacts to Doney park and Cosnino are expected but should be light. Impacts to I-40 are expected at night.
• Why: This prescribed burn will reduce hazardous fuels in the area, creating a fire-resilient ecosystem. By reducing hazardous fuels, such as pine needles, dead wood, and pinecones during times of cooler weather and lower winds, fire managers can create buffer zones around communities. to safeguard homes and infrastructure from the risk of catastrophic wildfire during peak wildfire season.
• Notes: The western side of this burn project has a significant amount of dead and down wood from the Horseshoe Fire in 1995, so that portion is considered initial entry and will produce significantly more smoke than other areas.

Sawmill

• Dates: May 1-3, 2025.
• Location: Mogollon Rim Ranger District. 10 miles southeast of Mormon Lake.
• Size: 1,604 acres.
• Type of Burn: Broadcast, maintenance burn.
• Smoke Impacts: Smoke may impact areas of Interstate 40 around Twin Arrows as well as Winslow. Smoke will be noticeable to motorists along I-17 in the Stoneman Lake exit area.
• Why: This prescribed burn will reduce hazardous forest fuels in the area, protecting main powerlines that feed electricity to the greater Phoenix area and help mitigate catastrophic wildfire.
• Notes: There is a good possibility this burn may be postponed due to wetter weather conditions.