Fuels projects support wildfire risk reduction underway in Yavapai County
The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) continues its ongoing efforts to protect Arizona’s residents and critical infrastructure with two fuels reduction projects in Yavapai County.
Ruger Ranch Phase 2
The 2,500-acre Ruger Ranch Phase 2 fuels reduction project spans north of Peeples Valley, southwest of Kirkland Junction, and west of SR 89.
The project, located on State Trust land, involves mastication work to reduce dense Chaparral within the large-scale treatment area. DFFM Foresters developed the project to protect Yavapai County’s rural communities of Kirkland, Peeples Valley, and Skull Valley from catastrophic wildfires.
Project work is expected to be completed by July 2025 pending no delays due to weather or fire restrictions. Residents in the Ruger Ranch area should expect to see contractor traffic near Ruger and Sorrells Roads, off SR 89.
Granite Oaks Phase 2
This 960-acre project is currently underway 9 miles northwest of Prescott and 2.5 miles southeast of the Williamson community.
Project goals include, reducing the connectivity of dense and hazardous fuels within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) through mastication work. Masticators are heavy pieces of equipment used to break apart and chip vegetation such as shrubs and small woody trees. Mastication helps break up fuel continuity which decreases fire spread and reduces a fire’s intensity.
Granite Oaks is a strategically designed project which provides wildland firefighters safer and more manageable fire suppression operations and ultimately, reduces the threat of high intensity fire burning through the area. Project operations take place on State Trust land parcels north and east of the community of Granite Oaks and will complement previous fuels mitigation efforts that border the Granite Oaks community.
There are no road closures associated with this project, but area residents should be mindful of heavy equipment traveling the roads.
The project is expected to be completed by December 2025 pending delays for fire restrictions, fire activity, or weather.
Ruger Ranch Phase 2 and Granite Oaks Phase 2 projects are just two of many hazardous fuels reduction projects for the agency that fall within DFFM’s prioritized objectives and mission to protect neighborhoods and communities from wildfire, improve the health of Arizona’s native vegetation and forests, and safeguard critical infrastructure.
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For more information, contact Tiffany Davila at 602-540-1036 or by email at [email protected].
