Fall and Winter Prescribed Burns Planned

Over the fall and winter months, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) plans to take advantage of seasonally cooler temperatures to accomplish multiple prescribed fire projects throughout Arizona.

State prescribed fire managers say so far projects are planned for Coconino, Apache, Navajo, Maricopa, and Yavapai Counties.

Project work remains dependent on resource availability and on favorable weather conditions which provide for safe burning efforts and successful project implementation and completion.

Some of the proposed projects include, DFFM’s Hidden Meadow RX, a 780-acre broadcast burn across State Trust land, north of Highway 260 between Lakeside and Eager. In addition, DFFM plans to conduct the Tres Rios project, west of Phoenix and the Robbins Butte RX, southwest of Buckeye. DFFM plans to collaborate again with Arizona State Parks and Trail to assist with some prescribed fire project work at their parks including, Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood.

Over the last five years, the state has averaged about 4,800 acres per year in prescribed fires. Last year, DFFM surpassed the agency’s yearly average and treated approximately 10,000 acres with prescribed fire around the state. Through calculated placement of fire, prescribed fire benefits Arizona’s landscapes to reduce overgrown and dead fuels and remove fine fuel buildup across the forest floors. Prescribed fires create healthier forests by providing nutrients to the soil and they allow healthier trees to grow and flourish. They also help reduce the risk of wildfires, they safeguard Arizona’s communities, critical infrastructure, and resources like the state’s watersheds.

DFFM plans to target approximately 5,000 acres in project work over the next few months. However, all prescribed fires are weather dependent and can be rescheduled or cancelled if conditions are not favorable for burning. The safety of the public and firefighters remain the agency’s number one priority.

DFFM works closely with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) prior to, during, and after a burn to mitigate any potential smoke impacts. ADEQ must approve all agency burn plans prior to starting ignitions. They closely monitor the weather along with smoke production and outflow throughout the project work.

DFFM plans to issue project-specific information before starting work.

For additional fire information:  Follow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/arizonaforestry

Follow us on Twitter – https://x.com/azstateforestry

Download or mobile phone application – https://www.apexmobile.net/app/azdffm/