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.

Due to dry conditions throughout the forests and increased fire danger, the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests have implemented Stage 2 Fire Restrictions, effective Tuesday at 6:00 pm.

Visit the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests website at www.fs.usda.gov/r03/apache-sitgreaves, and follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs.

Due to severe and extreme drought conditions and an uptick in fire activity, Arizona State, federal agencies, and Tribal agencies representing southeast Arizona plan to implement Stage 2 fire restrictions.

Due to severe and extreme drought conditions and an uptick in fire activity, Arizona State, federal agencies, and Tribal agencies representing southeast Arizona plan to implement Stage 2 fire restrictions.

Fire managers on the Prescott National Forest, Bradshaw Ranger District plan to burn piles of debris in and around the Prescott Basin. Ignitions are planned to start on Friday, March 7, and continue through March 31 as favorable weather conditions allow. Fire managers expect smoke impacts to be light and visible from multiple locations including Prescott, Chino Valley, and surrounding areas.

Coconino National Forest fire managers with the Flagstaff Ranger District plan to conduct pile burns today and tomorrow in several areas around the forest to take advantage of favorable weather conditions.

The piles to be burned are leftover slash from previous thinning projects and are ignited using drip torches and carefully monitored. Burning these piles help remove forest fuels and reduce the chance of catastrophic wildfire.

After consultation with Coconino County Emergency Management (CCEM), Forest Lakes Fire District, and the United States Forest Service (USFS), areas of Coconino County within the boundaries of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest will enter Stage 1 Fire Restrictions at 8 a.m. Friday, February 28, 2025.

The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) continues its ongoing efforts to protect Arizona’s residents and critical infrastructure with two fuels reduction projects in Yavapai County.

Ruger Ranch Phase 2
The 2,500-acre Ruger Ranch Phase 2 fuels reduction project spans north of Peeples Valley, southwest of Kirkland Junction, and west of SR 89.

The Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) has started a fuels reduction project within Oracle State Park in an ongoing effort to protect Arizona’s communities and improve the health of the state’s
diverse landscapes.

DFFM foresters designed the 36-acre Cherry Project to reduce the wildfire threat to the park and nearby communities as well as to improve the resiliency of Arizona’s native vegetation.