15,000-acre prescribed burn planned for Pleasant Valley Ranger District
Tonto National Forest fire specialists will be conducting a 15,000-acre broadcast burn on the Pleasant Valley Ranger District starting Tuesday, Nov. 30 through Monday, Dec. 6, 2021.
Fire crews on the ground assisted by a helicopter, will be conducting the large broadcast burn north of Pleasant Valley and south of the Naeglin Rim, along the 512 and 128 Roads and to the east of the Pleasant Valley Airport. Residents and visitors to the area can expect to see and smell moderate-to-heavy amounts of smoke during the seven-day prescribed burn operation.
During the day, smoke will impact the 512 Road, the OW Ranch, Forest Lakes, Canyon Creek Fish Hatchery and Pleasant Valley. In the evening hours, smoke will impact the 512 Road and Pleasant Valley, as smoke will likely move down Cherry Creek.
To minimize the impact of smoke, fire personnel will terminate ignitions by 3 p.m. and signs will be posted on roads that are likely to be affected by smoke. Motorists are urged to slow down and use caution while driving through these areas for the safety of firefighters, them-selves and the public. Residual smoke may linger in these areas through Friday, Dec. 10.
“The Tonto National Forest appreciates the ongoing patience and support of the communities that surround the forest as our fire specialists work to reduce the risk of wildfires through prescribed burning operations,” said District Ranger Matt Paciorek. “These treatments support the forest’s landscape-scale fuels reduction strategy to reduce catastrophic wildfire danger, initiate restoration of natural ecological systems and to develop and foster sustainable forest conditions for wildlife habitat and watersheds.”
Broadcast fire treatments typically continue for several days and are conducted when fuel moisture content and weather conditions are favorable. Low-to-moderate winds are needed to carry flames and to dissipate smoke during and after firing operations and to achieve safe and beneficial effects sought by land managers. The Forest Service conducts broadcast burns to reduce the build-up of hazardous fuel loads such as leaf litter, grasses and shrubs to prevent the risk of catastrophic wildfires.
For more information contact the Payson Ranger Station at (928) 474-7900 or for news and information about the Tonto National Forest, follow us on Facebook @TontoNationalForest or Twitter @TontoForest.
