Flagstaff Ranger District planning multiple pile burns south, north of Flagstaff

The Flagstaff Ranger District is planning three hand pile burns starting tomorrow which will burn piled material remaining from previous mechanical treatments both north and south of the Flagstaff metropolitan area.

The Inner Basin Piles (5 acres), Waterline Piles (20 acres), and Saginaw Piles (100 acres) projects will begin tomorrow and go throughout the week, producing visible smoke to those in the immediate area of Doney Park and Interstate 17 south of Flagstaff near Kelly Canyon.

These piles are large piles built by commercial timber equipment after thinning projects that must be burned while snow is on the ground and allows for greater control.

Smoke impacts from these burns should be light and short in duration due to forecasted westerly winds. Evening smoke from the Saginaw Piles project may settle in the I-17 corridor near Kelly Canyon exit and community of Mountainaire. No closures are anticipated with these pile burns.