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Coconino National Forest Prescribed Burn Projects

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Unit Information

1824 S. Thompson St. 
Flagstaff, 
86001 
1824 S. Thompson St. 
Flagstaff, 
86001 

Incident Contacts

Public Affairs Officer Brady Smith
Email: brady.smith@usda.gov
Phone: 928-310-6817

Highlighted Media

Prescribed burn projects usually commence during the early spring and fall months in northern Arizona. The public can get informed about upcoming prescribed burn projects and forest happenings by signing up to receive news releases in their email. The user just needs to provide their email address and select the “General public and local residents” list on the page before clicking “Sign Up.”

The following include any prescribed burn projects planned for the week across the Coconino National Forest. All projects are dependent upon weather conditions, so some of the projects might be cancelled at the last minute after testing weather conditions the day of the burn. Click here for an Overview Map of all the prescribed burn projects planned during Fall 2024 (20MB).

Burn planned for week of Dec. 16:

Horseshoe (Kendrick Project Area)

  • Dates: Dec. 17-18
  • Location: Flagstaff Ranger District. Located northwest of Flagstaff, roughly 13 miles north of Bellemont
  • Size: 715 acres
  • Type of Burn: Broadcast maintenance burn. Broadcast burning means firefighters will spread the fire across the landscape using drip torches, effectively 'broadcasting' the fire with low intensity across the landscape. Maintenance burns usually mean wildfire has recently been through the area, which tends to mean less smoke since forest fuels will not be as thick or built up over time. 
  • Smoke Impacts: Smoke will be highly noticeable from Flagstaff. Smoke impacts to U.S. Route 180 are expected during ignitions and overnight. Electronic signs will be placed on either side of the predicted smoke impact areas to alert motorists. Smoke is expected to rise and travel to the northeast during ignitions, and then to travel southwest overnight. Smoke may settle in low-lying areas overnight.
  • Why: This prescribed burn will reduce hazardous fuels in the area. By reducing hazardous fuels, such as pine litter and dried needlecast, during times of cooler weather and lower winds, fire managers can create a buffer zone to help safeguard nearby communities and infrastructure from the risk of catastrophic wildfire during peak wildfire season.
  • Notes: No formal closure orders will be issued, but members of the public are asked to avoid the fire area.

 

Basic Information
Current as of Mon, 12/16/2024 - 10:47
Incident Type Prescribed Fire
Incident Commander Coconino National Forest
Incident Description Prescribed burns are important part of forest restoration projects planned in accordance with the Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy. Prescribed burns and mechanical thinning work together to remove fuels such as woody debris and logging scraps from the forest floor during times of opportune weather.

Fire managers make every effort to effectively plan and execute burn plans at times when weather allows for smoke impacts to be minimized and transport up and over communities. If you have a complaint about the smoke impacts you are experiencing from any of the prescribed burn projects and would like to talk to a member of Fire Management Leadership, please call our hotline at 928-226-4608 and leave your message with your name and number and someone will return your call as soon as they are able.

For more information about prescribed burns and why wildfire is a necessary part of this ecosystem, please visit our website at coconinonationalforest.us.
Coordinates 35° 11' 8.9'' Latitude
-111° 40'
26
'' Longitude