Prescribed pile burns to continue next week north, south of Flagstaff

The Flagstaff Ranger District plans to continue three pile burns starting Monday, Jan. 10, which will burn piled material from previous mechanical treatments. Though many of last week’s pile burns were successful, the Saginaw Piles (100 acres) and Waterline Piles (20 acres) proved too damp from snowfall to successfully ignite. The FRD is also adding Hotshot Ranch Piles (15 acres) to the week’s agenda.

These piles will produce visible smoke to those in the immediate area of Doney Park and Interstate 17 south of Flagstaff near Kelly Canyon. Built by commercial timber equipment, these piles are the result of thinning projects that must be burned while snow is on the ground to allow for greater control.

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