Fire managers begin pile burning this week

Fire managers on the Williams and North Kaibab Ranger Districts are planning various pile burns starting this week. The goals of thinning and pile burning is to improve forest health and reduce fire hazards on the forest.

The Williams Ranger District is expected to start today, December 3, 2013, for 110 acres of pile burning near Holden Lake, approximately 2 miles northwest of Williams. Smoke will be highly visible from Williams and I-40, but should have minimal impacts.

The North Kaibab Ranger District is expecting to begin today. They expect to conduct pile burning near Timp Point between FSR 271 and FSRs 206/206B. Smoke may settle near Timp and Stina Points. Additional tentative plans include 25-50 acres of pile burning in the Jacob Lake Lodge area near Highways 67 and 89A. Very limited smoke impacts are predicted.

All prescribed fire activity is dependent on personnel availability, weather – including winds and ventilation, and approval from the ADEQ.