Point and Dutch prescribed fire projects planned on Black Mesa Ranger District
Firefighters plan to conduct prescribed fire operations on the Black Mesa Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests beginning September 25 through October 31, 2024, weather permitting.
The Point project area is 814 acres and is approximately 1 mile north of Forest Lakes. The boundaries of the project are mile marker 2 on FR 237 to FR 172 and FR 237C and constructed control lines.
The Dutch project area is 1,301 acres and is approximately 10 miles northwest of Forest Lakes. The boundaries of the project are FR 34 and FR 100 and constructed control lines.
The objective is to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations around the community of Forest Lakes and around private inholdings, and return the landscape to a more fire-resistant condition, aligning with the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy. The Forest Service's 10- year Wildfire Crisis Strategy aims to increase the use of fire on the landscape and other treatments to improve forest health.
Smoke is expected to be visible from the community of Forest Lakes and Highway 260 for the Point project, and from the community of Forest Lakes and Heber-Overgaard for the Dutch project. We recognize that smoke can impact residents, visitors, and our fire personnel. We will continue to coordinate closely with our partners and communities to minimize smoke impacts as much as possible. All prescribed fires on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests are subject to Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. The department’s Air Quality Division: Smoke Management webpage provides details about its air quality program. When smoke impacts are present, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality recommends that smoke sensitive individuals should reduce physical activity and stay indoors with windows and doors closed. For those who are unable to avoid smoke exposure, use of a particulate-filtering respirator mask can help. Real-time mapping of smoke and other air quality impacts is available at fire.airnow.gov.
Visit the A-S National Forests website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf and follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs.
