prescribed burn

Fire officials on the Payson Ranger District are preparing for prescribed fire operations to burn debris piles near Christopher Creek Campground beginning Tuesday, Dec. 6-10, 2022. 

The purpose of this 107-acre prescribed fire is to reduce the risk of destructive wildfires to surrounding communities, ranches and critical infrastructure. Additionally, prescribed fires restore natural ecological systems and landscapes, and develop and foster sustainable forest conditions for wildlife habitat and watersheds.

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 officials on the Globe Ranger District are preparing for a prescribed burn near the Timber Camp Campground on the Globe Ranger District beginning Wednesday, Nov. 16-18, 2022.

The purpose of this 290-acre burn along Ash Creek is to reintroduce fire into the ponderosa pine stands to help protect them from the negative impacts of uncharacteristically intense wildfire. The management action of introducing fire helps move the area towards the desired conditions by allowing for watershed protection, wildlife habitat improvement and the improvement of ecosystem function.

Update 11/15/2022:  Prescribed burn cancelled due to unfavorable weather conditions

Original: Fire specialists on the Tonto National Forest are preparing for prescribed burn operations south of Forest Road 512 near Gruwell Canyon on the Pleasant Valley Ranger District beginning Wednesday, Nov. 16-18, 2022.

Tonto National Forest fire officials are planning prescribed burns near State Route 260 on the Payson Ranger District beginning Tuesday, November 1-3, 2022.

Fire specialist plan to burn 17.5 acres of vegetation and grass resulting from mastication treatments as well as three acres of piled slash. Mastication uses mechanical equipment to grind up trees and vegetation into small pieces to reduce overcrowding and fuel loading on the forest.

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