Prescribed Burn Planned November 18th through 22nd on the Bradshaw Ranger District

 

 Fire managers on the Bradshaw Ranger District plan to burn on Monday, November 18th through Friday, November 22nd.  All burning will be dependent on appropriate current and expected weather conditions to achieve the desires fire effects.  While daytime wind direction is difficult to predict at this time, night time and early morning smoke impacts are expected to occur in low lying areas which will include Prescott, Thumb Butte, Copper Basin, and Iron Springs.  

Deering RX: First entry burn.  Approximately 277 acres of the, located 6 miles west of Prescott near Thumb Butte (T14N, R3W, Sec 31, 35).  Vegetation consists of ponderosa pine, along with pockets of chaparral and grass.  Smoke will be visible and could delay travel along Thumb Butte Road and areas immediately surround the burn area.   

No road or trail closures are expected, but we ask the public to use caution when traveling in and around the burn areas; and to use alternate routes and trails.  Please obey all traffic signs and use caution when traveling in the vicinity of all prescribed burn units as firefighters and fire-related traffic will be in the area.  

Prescribed fires are one of the most effective tools available to resource managers for restoring fire-adapted ecosystems. These burns will mimic natural fires by reducing hazardous fuels accumulations, and reintroduce fire into a fire dependent system; recycling nutrients and increasing habitat diversity.  Prescribed fires are managed with firefighter and public safety as the first priority. 

All prescribed fire activity is dependent on the availability of personnel and equipment, weather forecasts, fuels moisture levels and conditions that minimize smoke impacts as best as possible and approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (www.azdeq.gov).

Messages will be posted to social media when managed fires are ignited on the Prescott National Forest:

·         Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF/)  

·         Twitter (https://twitter.com/PrescottNF?lang=en)

The public can obtain additional information via the following: