Complex Incident Management Team 3 assumes command of the Greer Fire

donald.bolger@… Thu, 05/15/2025 - 10:42

The Greer fire was detected on private land midmorning Tuesday, May 13. The wind driven fire then moved on to Forest Service land, Arizona State Department of Forestry and Fire Management and the Forest Service joined into a multijurisdictional command. Today, Complex Incident Management Team 3, led by Matt Rau, assumed command of the Greer Fire at 6 a.m. today.

A community meeting is scheduled for today at 6:00 p.m. at the Round Valley High School Theatre to provide the latest updates and address public concerns.

Southeast Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team takes command of the Bryce Fire

A night shift consisting of engines and hotshot crews conducted successful firing operations along the east side of River Road, northeast of Fort Thomas. Crews stayed engaged in that area all day on Saturday, prepping the road for those operations. Firing operations, or backburns, are used to create a fire line ahead of the main fire. Resources then burn off the fuel between that line and the head to help slow the fire’s spread. Overnight crews also burned out around a home and other values at risk as part of structure and infrastructure protection.

Bryce Fire at 25 percent containment, second Hot Shot crew to arrive today

The Bryce Fire stayed active throughout the night as southeast winds fueled it to the northwest through the Gila River bottom. Firefighters stayed engaged into the early morning hours working to suppress numerous spot fires and scouting locations for day shift resources to safely engage at the head of the fire. The fire continues to produce extreme fire behavior with long-range spotting as it pushed approximately six miles on Friday.

Three State fuels reduction projects underway in Yavapai County

donald.bolger@… Mon, 05/05/2025 - 13:14

The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) started work on three more fuels reduction projects in Yavapai County as part of the agency’s Healthy Forest Initiative (HFI) program. The HFI program embraces proactive measures to safeguard Arizona’s communities and infrastructure and improve the health of the state’s diverse landscapes.

Prescribed fires planned on Verde Ranger District

donald.bolger@… Mon, 04/28/2025 - 17:05

Fire Managers on the Verde Ranger District plan to conduct a prescribed fire operation in the Agua Fria area this week. The project is located between Dugas Road and HWY 169 on the east side of I-17. (See attached map).   Ignitions are planned to start Wednesday, April 30 and last just one day, pending suitable conditions. Fire crews plan to treat a large surface area with broadcast burning to improve wildlife habitat and range improvements by reducing brush encroachment in the Aqua Fria grasslands.  

Active forest management continues across Coconino National Forest next week

donald.bolger@… Fri, 04/25/2025 - 09:54

As part of important active forest management, fire managers are planning a number of prescribed burn projects next week to reduce hazardous forest fuels in strategic areas of the national forest to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires to many northern Arizona communities.

Prescribed burns are always dependent upon multiple conditions, including personnel availability, fuel conditions, weather and approval from the Arizona Department of Environment Quality. The burns may be changed or canceled last-minute if burn conditions do not meet criteria outlined in advance.

Prescribed burn planned later this week west of Flagstaff

Fire managers with the Flagstaff Ranger District plan on continuing portions of the Horseshoe Maxwell Springs prescribed burn project located 9.5 miles northwest of Flagstaff, just north of Bellemont.

Prescribed burns are always dependent upon multiple conditions, including personnel availability, fuel conditions, weather and approval from the Arizona Department of Environment Quality. Prescribed burns may be changed or canceled last-minute if burn conditions do not meet criteria outlined in advance.

Fire managers planning prescribed burns across Coconino National Forest next week as a weather window of opportunity opens for safe implementation

donald.bolger@… Fri, 04/11/2025 - 12:08

Up to four prescribed burn projects are planned across Coconino National Forest next week to reduce hazardous forest fuels and reduce the risk of wildfires to many northern Arizona communities (listed below in chronological order).

Prescribed burns are always dependent upon multiple conditions, including personnel availability, fuel conditions, weather and approval from the Arizona Department of Environment Quality. Prescribed burns may be changed or canceled last-minute if burn conditions do not meet criteria outlined in advance.

Subscribe to smoke