Prescribed burn planned on Coconino NF this week

The Coconino National Forest plans to conduct the following prescribed burn project, beginning tomorrow for the next two days.

UBC 2 (Upper Beaver Creek) Project

Dates: Oct. 16-17
Location: 16 miles southeast of Munds Park, near Stoneman Lake. 
Size: 500 acres.
Type of burn:  Initial entry, broadcast burn. Initial entry burns mean fire has not been on the landscape any time recently, which results in a buildup of forest fuels such as pinecones, pine needles, dead and down trees, etc. This will result in thicker smoke when compared to a maintenance burn due to the density of forest fuels being burned. Broadcast burning means firefighters will spread the fire across the landscape using drip torches, effectively 'broadcasting' the fire with low intensity across the landscape. 
Smoke impacts: Possible impacts to Lake Mary Road, Stoneman Lake area, Verde Valley, and Interstate 17. Expect a southwest wind during the day and smoke to travel down drainage to Verde Valley overnight.
Why: This prescribed burn will reduce hazardous fuels such as downed trees and decaying plant matter in the project area. It will also return fire to a fire-adapted ecosystem.
Notes: There are no closures anticipated with this project.

Plans for prescribed burns often change quickly since they are dependent upon weather conditions and wind predictions. Details and updates about all prescribed burns can be found on the Coconino NF Inciweb site for Fall 2024 Prescribed Burn Projects, which is updated on a weekly basis. Planned prescribed burn projects will always be canceled if weather conditions – such as temperature, wind and humidity – do not meet the criteria outlined in the burn plan.

More information about the relationship between prescribed fire, weather and why prescribed burns are conducted at certain times of the year is available on Coconino National Forest’s prescribed burns & smoke web page.