wildfire

Pile burning activity is occurring at multiple locations to the south and east of the City of Williams producing smoke that will be visible from various outlying locations around the greater Williams area. Burning is expected to continue through the remainder of this week as conditions allow.

The Springerville Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests plans to conduct 20 acre prescribed slash pile burns January 14 through January 17, 2020, if weather conditions allow. This unit consists of piled debris left over from timber thinning operations, and spans across approximately 140 acres. The unit is located near Forest Service Road 117, Forest Service Road 8453, the Greens Peak Lookout, and Hall Ranch. Ignitions during snow storms and/or snow pack minimize pile creep (the burning through duff and litter (forest soil organic matter) surrounding the pile).

The Alpine Ranger District on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests is planning pile burns beginning Monday, January 13 through March 15, 2020, as weather conditions permit. The units consist of piled debris which are left over from the recent timber sales surrounding the community of Alpine. Ignitions during snow storms and/or snow pack are necessary in order to minimize pile creep.

Fire Managers on the Bradshaw Ranger District plan to continue taking advantage of favorable conditions, including fuel moisture level and forecasted weather to continue burning piles at various locations in the Prescott Basin Monday, December 2nd through Friday, December 6th.  Pile burning helps to reduce hazardous fuels adjacent to the wildland urban interface and increase ecosystem and community resilience. 

Recent wet weather has presented favorable opportunities for fire crews to burn piles on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. Fire personnel plan to begin work today in the Hardy project area, which is located about 10 miles northeast of the City of Williams.
 

Due to recent precipitation received on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest, fire managers plan to conduct pile burning beginning today and continuing through the middle of next week.

The piles are the result of forest restoration projects, and the purpose of burning them is to reduce forest fuels that could contribute to high-intensity wildfires. Fire managers will continue to seek opportunities throughout the winter to conduct pile burns. Areas to be treated when conditions are favorable are as follows:

Coconino National Forest firefighters plan to conduct prescribed burns next week in areas that will lessen smoke impacts to surrounding communities.
 
These burns are among the prescribed burn projects planned for the Flagstaff Ranger District and the Mogollon Rim Ranger District this fall and are part of a strategy to allow fire across the landscape in order to restore forests to healthier conditions, protect watersheds and improve the safety of the communities around them.