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Update 2017-01-10: Pile burns in Priest Draw January 11
Pile burns are planned to start the morning of Wednesday, January 11 in Priest Draw near the trailhead. A smoke plume will be visible from Flagstaff, Lake Mary Road, and possibly I-17. Smoke may... more

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Fire managers plan to conduct several prescribed burns over fall 2016 and spring 2017 in the Kendrick Mountain, Lockett Meadow, Wild Bill Hill, the Peaks, Kachina Village, Mormon Lake, Blue Ridge Urban Interface, Upper Beaver Creek, and the East Clear Creek areas. Projects are dependent upon weather and wind conditions, so they can be cancelled after they have been announced if conditions are not suitable.

Smoke from the burns is generally expected to disperse toward the northeast and may settle in low areas northeast of the specific burn, especially during the evening and early morning hours.

Prescribed fires are essential tools for restoring the forests in our fire-adapted ecosystem, and smoke is an unavoidable byproduct of these vital efforts. Fire managers strive to minimize smoke impacts to the community as much as possible. They burn when winds and other atmospheric conditions will push the majority of smoke away from homes; they’ll burn larger sections at a time to ultimately limit the number of days smoke is in the air; and they work closely with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, partners in the Ponderosa Fire Advisory Council, as well as neighboring forests to monitor air quality.

Crews also seek opportunities to use slash from thinning projects around the community instead of burning it – it is often used as filler at the landfill and offered as firewood to community members. However, no matter how many mechanical means the Forest Service employs to restore forests, fire is a natural and necessary part of this ecosystem, and a restoration tool that cannot be replaced by any mechanical means. Forests need the frequent, low-intensity fire to remove accumulated smaller fuels and recycle nutrients into the soils to promote healthy vegetation and wildlife habitat. A healthier forest is a safer forest for firefighters and residents when wildfires inevitably occur.

Notifications of upcoming prescribed burns are provided regularly throughout the season. The public can find this information online:

• @CoconinoNF on Twitter
• Coconino National Forest: News and Events
• Submit a smoke impact report
• Subscribe to Southwestern Region News: Get news releases in your inbox

Planned Prescribed Burns

The following are proposed for prescribed burns on the Coconino National Forest to occur at different times over the the season. Additional prescribed burn information will be added to this list as it becomes available.

Flagstaff Ranger District

693 acres. 35° 29' 22.92"N, 111° 49' 14.85"W

1,714 acres. 35° 27' 49.11"N, 111° 47' 31.66"W

1,531 acres. 35° 24' 48.78"N, 111° 46' 02.38"W

1,313 acres. 35° 17' 41.51"N, 111° 49' 20.93"W

4,000 acres. 35° 24' 18.18"N, 111° 37' 15.56"W

300 acres. 35° 09' 39.41"N, 111° 37' 25.97"W

700 acres. 35° 05' 51.54"N, 111° 35' 33.99"W

345 acres. 35° 05' 30"N, 111° 43' 07"W

300 acres. 35° 05' 48"N, 111° 42' 28"W

780 acres. 35° 04' 27"N, 111° 41' 45"W

500 acres. 35° 12' 58.82"N, 111° 44' 41.90"W

1,500 acres. 34° 54' 25.61"N, 111° 29' 29.74"W

Mogollon Rim Ranger District

2,000 acres. 34° 38' 49"N, 111° 26' 45"W

600 acres. 34° 35' 4"N, 111° 21' 21"W

2,500 acres. 34° 37' 48"N, 111° 9' 59"W

4,000 acres. 34° 30' 15"N, 111° 10' 3"W

Red Rock Ranger District

1,000 acres. 34° 44' 26"N, 111° 31' 14"W