Tonto Basin Ranger District plans pile burns

Tonto National Forest fire officials are preparing to burn three piles on the Tonto Basin Ranger District, Monday, Jan. 30, 2023.

Fire specialists plan to move forward with burning three separate slash piles that were cancelled earlier this month. The three sites include: the Indian Point Community Green Waste site, Burnt Corral Campground (FS 49 Road and State Route 88) and the Crabtree Wash Pit near the Apache Lake Marina. Pile burns range from 1 acre to a quarter of an acre in size.

Smoke is anticipated to be moderate during ignitions and is expected to disperse by the late  afternoon with little impacts to State Routes 88 and 188, the community of Tonto Basin and the Apache Lake Marina Resort. Ignitions will be completed by noon. Nighttime smoke should be minimal and may impact the community of Tonto Basin, Punkin Center, and potentially the Apache Lake Marina Resort.

Experienced fire and fuels specialists on the Tonto National Forest build prescribed fire plans using the most up-to-date science and modeling along with their combined on the ground fire and fuels experience. Prescribed burning is key in treating landscapes to reduce the risk of destructive wildfire to the American people and to the public lands entrusted to Forest Service care.

Affected communities should remain aware of smoke advisories and conditions. Learn more about smoke impacts on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality website.

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