Pile Burn Project at Dead Horse Ranch State Park Planned for Week of February 13, 2023

Cottonwood, AZ (2/9/23) – Next week the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management in conjunction with Arizona State Parks and Trails begin a two-day pile burn project at Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood. During the day, smoke off the project may be visible to the City of Cottonwood and immediate communities. Project managers expect the smoke to settle into the Verde River overnight near Cottonwood down to Camp Verde. The project takes place within the state park, but will not affect park visitors.

The piles are approximately five acres and the result of leftover debris from continual fuels work conducted by Arizona State Parks and Trails to reduce wildfire risk within the park and nearby residences. Pile burning is an effective and efficient tool to reduce that leftover debris and helps further safeguard the area. Ignitions begin the morning of Tuesday, February 14, with project completion expected by Wednesday. Prescribed burns are always dependent upon weather conditions and resource availability. Burns will be cancelled or rescheduled if conditions do not allow for safe burning.

DFFM assists Arizona State Parks and Trails by providing them with hand crews and additional resources qualified in prescribed fire. Over the last few months, the agency has conducted several pile burns at Tonto Natural Bridge, Lost Dutchman, Roper Lake, and Picacho Peak State Parks.

All burns, regardless of pile or broadcast, must have approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality prior to beginning ignitions. Notifications will be made before the start of ignitions on the agency’s social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter and Nextdoor.

For more information, contact Tiffany Davila at 602-540-1036 or by email at [email protected]