Forest Service Continues Pile Burns February 1- 5 in the Prescott Basin
Prescott National Forest fire managers treated 50 acres of piles this past week, and plan to continue fuels treatment in the Prescott Basin February 1 – 5. These treatments help to reduce hazardous fuels adjacent to the wildland urban interface, and increase ecosystem and community resilience. Burning of approximately 30 acres per day will start on Monday, February 1st and could continue through Friday, February 5th pending favorable weather conditions.
Spruce Mountain Piles – Piles are located approximately 5 miles south and east of Prescott near the community of Groom Creek (T13N, R2W, S36).
Mt Francis Piles – Piles are located approximately 4 miles south of Prescott, west of Highway 89A near Mt. Francis (T13N, R2W, S30).
Sierra Prieta Ridge Piles – Piles are located approximately 4 miles south and west of Prescott, near Sierra Prieta Overlook (T13N, R3W, S10).
Oak Knoll Piles – Piles are located approximately 2 miles south of Prescott, east of White Spar Campground (T13N, R2W, S15).
Burning of debris left over from thinning projects requires moisture in the surrounding vegetation and typically produces much lighter smoke than broadcast burning. Pile burning is one piece of the ongoing fuels reduction work in the Prescott basin.
All prescribed fire activity is dependent on the availability of personnel and equipment, weather, fuels and conditions that minimize smoke impacts as best as possible and approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality www.azdeq.gov.
The public can obtain additional prescribed fire information via the following:
-
Prescott NF Fire Information Hotline: (928) 777-5799
-
Prescott NF Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/prescott/
-
Local Ranger Stations: Bradshaw Ranger District, (928) 443-8000; Chino Valley Ranger District (928) 777-2200; Verde Ranger District (928) 567-4121