Flagstaff Tornado Piles to be Burned

Phoenix, AZ (9/18/18) - The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management will be starting a large-scale pile burn operation this week, south of Camp Navajo and approximately 8 miles southwest of Flagstaff.

Ignitions will begin today, Tuesday, September 18th, dependent on proper weather conditions. Over the course of the three-week project, fuel crews will burn nearly 600 acres of debris piles leftover from a 2010 tornado that hit Coconino County.

The department has been waiting for the ideal time to burn the piles due to their condition. At the time, the piles were green making the fuels within them difficult to burn. Those piles have since cured allowing for an easier and safer burn.

The abundant moisture from this year’s monsoon season is another factor crews can finally start get started on this project.

The forecasted weather over the next few weeks, including the warmer temperatures, will help fire consume the piles quicker and cleaner thus reducing the smoke impact.

Depending on weather conditions, ignitions will start today and tomorrow at 7 a.m. Crews will then monitor the piles throughout the days and over the course of the three-week project.

It is a possibility smoke could impact Interstate 40 around the burn area, along with Bellemont and Flagstaff. For more information, contact Tiffany Davila at 602-540-1036 or by email at [email protected]