The Coconino National Forest is planning to conduct five different prescribed burns, with the first beginning April 28 and the fifth lasting until May 3.
The burns, which will be on both the Flagstaff and the Mogollon Rim ranger districts, may be changed or canceled last-minute if conditions do not meet criteria outlined in advance. Should wind and weather conditions become unfavorable, ignitions will be halted, and project plans will be postponed, changed or canceled.
Horseshoe-Maxwell Springs
Scheduled for either Monday, April 28, or Tuesday, April 29, the project is located 1.5 miles north of Bellemont and will cover 369 acres.
Smoke could impact U.S. Highway 180 in and around the Fort Valley area during the day. At night, smoke impacts are possible to Bellemont and Interstate 40 in the Bellemont area. An area closure is in effect until April 30.
Blue Ridge Urban Interface
Located 7 miles northeast of Clints Well, the project is scheduled from Monday, April 28, to Thursday, May 1. The burns, taking place on 3,181 acres, will be conducted over two days.
In the evening and early-morning hours after the burn, smoke will likely impact some areas of Route 87 near the burn. Smoke may also impact the greater Blue Ridge and Clear Creek Pines communities. Due to the burn, the Arizona National Scenic Trail will be rerouted to Forest Road 211 to go around the burn area.
West Fork Crater Sinks
Scheduled to begin on either Wednesday, April 30, or Thursday, May 1, the burn is located 13 miles southwest of Flagstaff. Spanning 1,795 acres, 955 are national forest land and 840 are state land.聽
Smoke should stay localized to the burn area, with a slight chance of overnight impacts to U.S. Highway 89A in the Fry Canyon area near Forest Road 535A. Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek may see impacts, especially in the evening hours after the burn.
Horseshoe-Kendrick
Scheduled for Thursday, May 1, and Friday, May 2, the project is 17 miles northwest of Flagstaff on the west side of Kendrick Park.
Broken up across the two days, the 2,761-acre burn is planned for 1,398 acres on May 1 and 1,363 on May 2. Doney Park and Cosnino are expected to be impacted by smoke, but it is expected to be light. Interstate 40 could be impacted at night. With a significant amount of dead and down wood on the western side of the project from the 1995 Horseshoe Fire, the smoke will produce more smoke than other areas.
Sawmill
Scheduled from Thursday, May 1, to Saturday, May 3, the burn will be 10 miles southeast of Mormon Lake.
Burning 1,604 acres, the project may have smoke impact I-40 around Twin Arrows and Winslow. Smoke will be noticeable to vehicles along I-17 in the Stoneman Lake Exit area. Coconino National Forest believes the burn may be postponed due to wetter weather conditions.
Updates will be posted on our Coconino National Forest prescribed burn projects InciWeb page, which is updated any time new information is available.