Prescribed fire activity planned on the Springerville Ranger District

Fire managers plan to begin prescribed fire operations on the Springerville Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests beginning October 28 through November 30, 2024, as weather and vegetation conditions allow for successful operations.

The approximately 6,000-acre Wallow West 6A and 6B broadcast burn is spread over two different burn units that are in close proximity to each other. The 6A unit is 1,684 acres, and unit 6B is 4,272 acres.  The Wallow West 6 project is located southwest of the Big Lake Recreation Area, south of Highway 273. Unit boundaries for 6A are south of FR249E, east of FR68, north of 249C. Unit boundaries for 6B are south of 249E, east of FR116, north of 72M.

The burns may be separated by a few days or completed in the same day depending on resources available. The burns contain pockets of wet mixed conifer which helps to decrease fire behavior in those areas. A large part of both units is within the Wallow Fire scar, prescribed fire into those areas will help to clear up standing snags and downed logs.   

The objective of this prescribed fire project is to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations, minimize the risk of high-severity wildfires, and return the landscape to a more fire-resistant condition, aligning with the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy. The Forest Service's 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy aims to reduce wildfire risk to people, communities, and natural resources while sustaining and restoring healthy, resilient fire-adapted forests. 

Smoke may be visible from the Big Lake Recreation Area, Thompson Trail, and the communities of Eagar, Springerville, and Greer.  We recognize that smoke can impact residents, visitors, and our fire personnel. We will continue to coordinate closely with our partners and communities to minimize smoke impacts as much as possible.

The department’s Air Quality Division: Smoke Management webpage provides details about its air quality program. When smoke impacts are present, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality recommends that smoke sensitive individuals should reduce physical activity and stay indoors with windows and doors closed. For those who are unable to avoid smoke exposure, use of a particulate-filtering respirator mask can help. Real-time mapping of smoke and other air quality impacts is available at fire.airnow.gov.

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