Prescribed Fire Projects Starting This Week Near Flagstaff
Phoenix, AZ (10/30/23) – The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management’s (DFFM) prescribed fire program resumes this week starting with two projects southeast of Flagstaff in Coconino County.
The 250-acre Log Cabin prescribed fire is located near Old Walnut Canyon Road, approximately eight miles southeast of Flagstaff and one mile south of Interstate 40. The 450-acre Walnut prescribed fire is located adjacent to the Log Cabin project, also approximately eight miles southeast of Flagstaff and one mile south of Interstate 40. Fire managers plan to begin ignitions to Log Cabin on Thursday, November 2, with ignitions planned for the Walnut project the next day. Both projects consist of Ponderosa Pine and fine fuel components. Ignitions are weather dependent with work expected to take a total of two days to complete.
The goal of both the Log Cabin and Walnut projects is to reduce hazardous vegetation around infrastructure and private lands. Prescribed fire managers strategically plan projects in higher risk areas where forest fuels continue to accumulate and therefore pose a greater danger of producing extreme fire behavior. Prescribed fire acts as a cleansing mechanism to remove ground litter, reduce invasive species and diseased vegetation, and ultimately helps to safeguard communities.
Predicted winds out of the southwest may push smoke off the projects to the northeast with potential impacts to Interstate 40 and nearby communities. Overnight residual smoke may settle within the Walnut Canyon National Monument and drainages near the project work. Before ignitions begin, all prescribed fire plans must have prior approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
Over the next few months, DFFM plans to conduct additional prescribed fires across the state. So far this year, the agency has treated more than 9,000 acres in prescribed fire projects in Coconino County and southern Arizona.
For more information, contact Tiffany Davila at 602-540-1036 or by email at [email protected]
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