Prescott Valley

Fire managers on the Verde Ranger District plan to burn 2,805 acres of the Crater RX.  Ignitions are planned to start on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, through Thursday, November 9, 2023, pending favorable weather conditions and resource availability.

Fire managers on the Verde Ranger District plan to burn 4,130 acres of the 132 Blacklining RX.  Ignitions are planned to start on Monday October 23, 2023, through Sunday, November 5, 2023, pending favorable weather conditions. The burn unit is located on Mingus Mountain, east of Highway 89A (R15N, R2E, Sec21). Smoke will be visible from Prescott Valley, Dewey, Prescott, Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Camp Verde and the I-17 corridor.  Expect large volume of smoke during day light hours and overnight smoke impacts in Prescott Valley, Dewey and surrounding low lying areas.

Fire managers on the Verde Ranger District plan to burn 259 acres of the Workcenter RX.  Ignitions are planned to start on Tuesday, October 10 through Wednesday, October 11, 2023, pending favorable weather conditions. The burn unit is located on Mingus Mountain, east of Highway 89A, north of Forest Road 104 near Mingus Lookout Tower, Mingus Hand Gliding Site, and United Methodist Camp (T15N, R2E, Sec 2). 

Fire Managers on the Prescott National Forest plan to continue with prescribed burning in the Prescott Basin on the Bradshaw Ranger District south of Prescott, Arizona. Ignitions are planned to start on Monday, October 2, 2023, and will continue through the week, depending on weather conditions and resource availability.

The Prescott National Forest (PNF) is taking command of the Grapevine fire as of 7:00 am, Friday August 4, 2023, from the Central West Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team (CWZT3).  The CWZT3 provided command for the resources deployed from all around the state for 13 days while coordinating with county, city and various other agencies including volunteers. The CWZT3 met all objectives the PNF outlined to provide safety to fire personnel and the public while suppressing the Grapevine Fire.

Monsoon storms yesterday (Tuesday, August 1) required fire crews to take protective actions to stay safe by disengaging from suppression activities. Priority is being placed to complete needed action to turn the fire over to the Prescott National Forest. Fire Crews are continuing the process of constructing control lines and suppression repair around the fire area. These actions include mitigation of infrastructure, roads, bar ditches and any damage to the surrounding areas effected by fire suppression activities.

Great news, the fire area received up to a ¼ inch of rain and some parts of Mingus Mountain received 2 inches. Fire crews completed protection of Mingus Mountain Academy. Additional control lines are being constructed just north of the Whitehorse community along FR9002W using a combination of hand tools, heavy equipment. Heavy equipment and crews are still working on a protective line along FR132 and improving existing lines along the east side of the fire.

Fire crews are helped by the current weather lessening the ignitability of light fuels while the heavy fuels are still showing heat in the interior of the fire area. Continued efforts by fire personnel on the ground are being focused on the structures being threatened if the fire were to breach the existing control lines. Dozer lines have been established along the northern edge of the Whitehorse community while lines have been constructed along the northwestern side; heavy equipment is being deployed along the northeastern areas along with Hot Shot Crews.

Fire crews will be continuing the process of monitoring the western side of the fire while holding and improving existing control lines with fire equipment, ncluding dozers and helicopters, to protect the repopulated communities.

Fire crews will be continuing the process of monitoring the western side of the fire while holding and improving existing control lines. Additional personnel and fire equipment, including dozers and helicopters, have been brought in to assist crews already doing work on the fire.