Arizona State Department of Forestry and Fire Management and Coconino National Forest fire managers plan to take advantage of current weather conditions and begin work on a highly visible prescribed burn project southwest of Flagstaff starting tomorrow.

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.

Highlights:

Firefighters are focusing on mop-up operations and suppression repair throughout the fire-affected area. Crews are closely monitoring interior pockets of heat to ensure the fire remains within its current footprint. Visible smoke from unburned pockets of fuel within the fire's interior is expected. Monitoring and containment efforts continue along the SR-260 corridor.

Highlights:

The management of the Horton Fire transitioned to a Type 3 team with the Tonto National Forest at 7 a.m. today. Yesterday, crews strengthened containment lines to a depth of nearly 200 feet along the powerline corridor. Mop-up operations and suppression repair continue throughout the affected area, and the forest closure order has been updated to reflect current conditions.

Highlights:

Firefighters worked through snow and frigid temperatures yesterday to strengthen containment along the fire perimeter. With increasing containment, excess equipment is being backhauled, and crews are actively monitoring and patrolling the area. Efforts continue to address remaining pockets of heat within the fire perimeter to ensure the fire stays within its current footprint.

Highlights:

With cold and wet conditions reducing fire behavior, firefighters continued patrols, mop-up efforts, and prep work along the fire perimeter. Crews addressed internal pockets of unburned fuels, which may produce visible smoke and flames but remain well within the interior of the fire. Improved containment lines have led Gila County to lower evacuation levels to READY for communities along the western containment line.

Fire managers plan to continue prescribed fire operations on the Lakeside Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests beginning November 20 through November 22, 2024, as weather and vegetation conditions allow for successful operations.

Fire managers with the Coconino National Forest continue to monitor burn piles of slash along Snowbowl Road that continue to smolder and be consumed. These piles continue to produce smoke which may be noticeable to people in the immediate area and will likely increase through the week.

Firefighters plan to continue prescribed fire operations on the Black Mesa Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests beginning November 20 through November 25, 2024, as weather and vegetation conditions allow for successful operations.    

Fire managers on the Prescott National Forest plan to conduct prescribed burning in the Prescott Basin on the Bradshaw Ranger District south of Prescott, Arizona.  Ignitions are planned to start Friday, November 1, and continue into early next week depending on weather conditions and resource availability.  

The Goldwater RX is located east of Highway 89 and Ponderosa Park Road; west of School House Gulch Road; north of Marapai Road; and west of Goldwater Lake. Resources will remain on scene to monitor and patrol in the days following the prescribed burn.

Fire managers plan to continue prescribed fire operations on the Lakeside Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests beginning October 28 through November 22, 2024, as weather and vegetation conditions allow for successful operations.