Prescott National Forest

Fire Managers on the Chino Valley Ranger District plan to treat 450 acres of grass and range lands north of Williamson Valley (T18N, R5W, Sec 23) with prescribed fire. Ignitions on the Sinks RX will begin today, November 29, 2022, pending favorable weather conditions. This project is part of the Chino Landscape Restoration where fire crews plan to treat a large surface area with broadcast burning, improving wildlife habitat and the resiliency of forest ecosystems.

Fire Managers on the Verde Ranger District plan to burn 436 acres of the Springs RX on Thursday, December 01, 2022; pending favorable weather conditions.  If fire managers are unable to burn on Thursday, they will monitor conditions and try another day the following week. The burn is located on Mingus Mountain near the junction of Forest Service Road 132 and Forest Service Road 105; and Mingus Springs Ranch (T15N, R2E, Sec 28).  Ignitions are planned to be completed in two days. Fire personnel will continue to monitor, patrol and mop-up for several days after ignitions are complete.

Fire managers on the Bradshaw Ranger District have cancelled ignition plans for the Ranch Prescribed Fire (RX), however ignitions can still be expected to begin on Monday November 28, 2022, as fire crews continue to target debris piles south of the Lynx Lake area and throughout the Prescott Basin. Smoke production will be highly visible from multiple locations including Chino Valley, Prescott, Prescott Valley, and Dewey-Humboldt but should be short in duration.

 Fire Managers on the Bradshaw Ranger District plan to take advantage of the moisture received and burn debris piles near Lynx Lake and in the Walker Road area.  Ignitions are planned to start on Thursday November 10, 2022, and continue through Wednesday November 23, 2022, as favorable weather conditions allow. Fire managers expect smoke impacts to be light in the surrounding areas. Pile burning helps to reduce hazardous fuels in the wildland urban interface and increases ecosystem and community resilience.

Fire managers on the Verde Ranger District plan to burn 1275 acres starting on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, pending favorable weather conditions.  If fire managers are unable to burn on Tuesday, they will monitor conditions and try another day of the week.  The burn is located on Mingus Mountain near Mingus Springs Ranch and Kendall Peak (T15N, R2E, Sec 27).  Ignitions are planned to be completed in one day, however fire personnel will continue to monitor, patrol and mop-up for several days after ignitions.

Fire Managers on the Bradshaw Ranger District plan to take advantage of moisture received and burn piles of debris south and east of the entrance into the Granite Mountain Recreation Area starting on October 19, 2022, through Monday, October 31, 2022. Fire crews look to burn 275 acres of piles that were constructed as part of a hazardous fuel’s reduction and timber stand improvement project.  Piles are located outside of the recreation area and will not impact trails, roads, or campsites in Granite Basin.

Update Oct 18, 2022: The Rock Prescribed Burn  has been cancelled this week due to moisture received over the weekend.   

The Prescott National Forest is getting calls regarding washed out roads, damaged roads, and impassable roads due to continued rain brought about by the monsoons. Weather conditions caused extensive damage and washed out a section of the Senator Hwy, approximately 3 miles south of Senator Hwy and Walker Road making it unsafe and impassable. Forest Service Road 87B in Mayor has receive severe damage, along with several roads on Mingus Mountain and in Camp Wood.  Road maintenance crews are working to repairs roads, however continued monsoons rains are delaying efforts.

Due to monsoonal activity and sufficient rainfall, the Prescott National Forest will rescind all fire restrictions as of 8 a.m. Friday, July 15, 2022.  

Fire danger remains high across the forest. Visitors are still asked to remain vigilant and avoid activities that could accidentally cause wildfires – refrain from campfires on dry and windy days and remember that it is always illegal to leave a campfire unattended. In addition, fireworks are never allowed on any National Forest land.