Coronado National Forest

Fire and Aviation

Prescribed Fire

2008

Nugget Burn — Santa Catalina Ranger District

The Coronado National Forest's Santa Catalina Ranger District, tentatively plans to ignite the Nugget Prescribed Fire the week of November 17 to 21, 2008.  The burn area, approximately 1,700 acres, is southeast of the community of Oracle, west and uphill from Peppersauce Campground.

Agua Caliente Burn — Santa Catalina Ranger District

The Coronado National Forest, in partnership with Arizona Game and Fish Department, plans to use prescribed fire on 11,000 acres in the area of Agua Caliente Hill in Redington Pass, east of Tucson, to reduce heavy accumulations of brush, which will restore wildlife habitat, improve watershed conditions, and reduce future wildfire potential.

Currently scheduled for ignition on May 12th. . . . MORE

Whitmire Burn — Nogales Ranger District

May 14, 2008 — The week of May 19th, 2008, a prescribed fire is scheduled on the Douglas Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest.  The Whitmire Prescribed Fire will be undertaken in the Peloncillo Mountains of southwest New Mexico.  Weather and other conditions permitting, 80 acres of National Forest Land will be burned as part of a study led by the Rocky Mountain Research Center. More

2007

Protero Burn — Nogales Ranger District

On Monday, December 3rd, the Nogales Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest plans to burn piles of mechanically-thinned brush on approximately 300 acres in Portrero and Alamo Canyons, which is approximately three miles northwest of Nogales. More

Map

Catalinas Burn — Rose Canyon -- Catalina Ranger District

The Santa Catalina Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest will continue with ongoing fuels treatment program by burning piles of mechanically thinned logs on Monday, December 3, weather permitting.  The burning will occur in the vicinity of Rose Canyon Lake, near Milepost 17 on the Mt. Lemmon highway, and may continue into the week. More

Whitmire Burn — Douglas Ranger District, Peloncillo Mountains

During the week of November 26th, the Douglas Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest plans to implement a prescribed fire project in the Peloncillo Mountains in southwestern New Mexico.  Weather and other conditions permitting, 155 acres of National Forest Land will be burned as part of a study led by the Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Research Station. More

Whitmire Rx Burn Map

Cottonwood Burn — Douglas Ranger District

Starting Thursday, April 5, 2007, fire managers will conduct a "test fire" to verify that fire behavior characteristics meet planned management objectives and smoke dispersion standards.

If the test fire is a sucess, "blacklining" around the permiter of the burn will begin and continue for the next two weeks, weather permitting. The main broadcast portion (4500 acres) of the burn will likely be implemented in May.

2006

Merritt Burn — Huachuca Mountains

Given the weather that is predicted, the "quality burn window" is fading rapidly. After talking this morning to the rest of the fire folks, we probably won't be able to continue with the Merritt Burn until January. That is, of course, if the weather allows it at that time.

Out of 3,800 acres to be burned, we've completed 600 acres of blackline, which is what our goal was initially. These 600 acres are on the east and northeast perimeter of the burn and are critical in location to "catching" any wildfire that may come towards the Huachucas from the Canelo mountains, Parker Canyon Lake Recreation Area, or the San Rafael Valley.

Even before the burn is fully completed, it's providing a degree of protection for Ft. Huachuca and the residents in Lyle and Brushy Canyons. Early last week, fire management decided to pull a 350 acre piece back into the project that had been previously excluded. By adding this section back into the project, we will have a more complete perimeter.

We will continue working on the Ft. Huachuca burns over the winter/early spring months as weather allows. We also have piles in Hunter Canyon (east-side Huachucas) that we may ignite once we get cooler weather.

2005

Cottonwood Burn — Peloncillo Mountains

To date, 2330 acres have been treated. See Map. Currently, this burn is inactive.

Chiricahua Mountains — Johnson Peak

The Johnson Peak Prescribed Fire is concluded.

Photos of Johnson Peak Prescribed Fire taken February 14, 2006 Click to Enlarge

Johnson Peak Prescribed Burn Mitigation Plan
Douglas Ranger District
Coronado National Forest
March 7, 2006
(pdf, 304 kb)

Map of Johnson Peak Prescribed Fire
February 15, 2006
(pdf, 271 kb)
(jpg, 243 kb)

Map
December 5, 2005
(pdf, 1.44 mb)
(jpg, 246 kb)

November 29 Map
(pdf, 1.43 mb)
(jpg, 300 kb)

Latest Update
December 6, 2005

News Releases
November 22, 2005
November 29, 2005