The Lakeside Ranger District plans to conduct prescribed fire operations across 2,254 acres starting as early as May 8 and running through May 15, 2024 as weather and vegetation conditions allow for successful operations. The Doyle (354 acres) and Ortega (1,900 acres) burn units are located directly to the southwest of Vernon and are situated along Forest Roads 44 and 3D.
Fire managers will be monitoring weather conditions leading up to, during, and after implementation and will not burn during, or with high forecasted winds. If conditions are favorable and ignitions occur, smoke will be visible from the City of Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside, Vernon, McNary, Concho, Snowflake, and Springerville-Eagar. Smoke could also travel across Highways 60, 61, and 260 (with a northern wind). Smoke impacts could last for several days after initial ignitions take place but should be significantly less each day afterwards.
A public meeting will be held at the Vernon Fire Department on Monday, May 06, 2024 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Forest Service fire managers will be there to discuss the possibility for implementing the prescribed burn and will answer questions for those that may be impacted by smoke or are just interested in getting additional information.
Prescribed fires support land management objectives by improving plant and wildlife habitat, reducing the threat of invasive species on the landscape, and help protect communities from extreme wildfires. The treatment areas modify wildfire behavior by reducing ladder fuels composed of dead and live vegetation on, or just above the forest floor such as branches and needles or low lying shrubs and trees that can carry fire from the ground to the tops of trees.
This prescribed fire project also aims to improve wildlife habitat within hunting unit 3B. The burn treatment will improve range habitat for elk, mule deer, turkey, pronghorn, and bear.
This prescribed fire is within the Four Forest Restoration Initiative area (4FRI) and is part of the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy to reduce wildfire risk to nearby communities and natural resources.
Information on air quality is available at https://www.airnow.gov/. Visit the A-S National Forests website and follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter).