Coconino National Forest fire managers are preparing for fall season prescribed burning as conditions create opportunities for applying fire to the landscape. Up to 17,200 acres of prescribed fire treatments are tentatively planned across the forest this season. Acreages are estimates and dependent on how often and how long conditions are suitable. The chart below lists the areas and project names.
The forest depends on frequent low-severity fire – natural and necessary part of this ecosystem cannot be replaced by any mechanical effort — to reduce accumulated vegetation, enhance wildlife habitat, and recycle valuable nutrients into the soil. The result is a healthier forest with reduced risk of severe fire behavior and safer conditions for the community and firefighters.
Prescribed burns are termed such because they are conducted within a “prescription” that defines the fuel moisture levels, air temperatures, wind conditions, and relative humidity levels that are appropriate for each project.
All prescribed fire activity is dependent on personnel availability, fuel conditions, weather – including ventilation conditions, and approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ).
Fire managers strive to minimize smoke impacts to the community as much as possible. They burn when winds and other atmospheric conditions will push the majority of smoke away from homes; they’ll burn larger sections at a time to ultimately limit the number of days smoke is in the air; and they work closely with ADEQ, partners in the Ponderosa Fire Advisory Council, as well as neighboring forests to monitor air quality.