FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., Sep. 24, 2024 — The Coconino National Forest is preparing for a robust fall prescribed burn season, which usually begins the first week of October and runs through December due to favorable weather conditions.
Fire managers across three districts have plans for 14 prescribed burn projects spanning locations across the national forest, comprising thousands of acres. Since prescribed burns are dependent upon weather conditions, some or all these projects may be implemented. Dates of implementation can also change or projects postponed or cancelled if conditions are not ideal.
Prescribed burns play an essential role in the management of Coconino National Forest and reducing hazardous forest fuels such as downed trees and pine needle accumulation. Removing these fuels during times of opportune weather helps prevent catastrophic wildfires during summer months, as well as improves the health of watersheds and wildlife habitat.
Stay Informed
Information about these projects in regard to location, size, dates, types of burn, predicted smoke impacts, maps, and more can be found on the Coconino National Forest 2024 Fall Prescribed Burn Season Inciweb site online. This site will be updated whenever new information is available, and news releases will be sent out to the public several days prior to a prescribed burn project.
The public can get informed about upcoming prescribed burn projects and forest happenings by signing up to receive news releases in their email. The user just needs to provide their email address and select the “General public and local residents” list on the page before clicking “Sign Up.”
During prescribed fire, smoke will be visible from several areas across the forest. Please refrain from contacting dispatch or 911 to report prescribed fires so lines can remain open for emergencies.
Prescribed fires are subject to approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), and the public can view approved prescribed burn projects on ADEQ’s website at smoke.azdeq.gov. Coconino National Forest fire projects begin with the Burn Number designator “COF.”
Smoke Impacts
Fire managers take air quality concerns seriously and seek to minimize smoke impacts to the greatest extent possible. Despite the benefits of prescribed burns, we are aware that members of the community can be sensitive to the smoke produced. We coordinate closely with partners to keep communities informed about projects and potential smoke, as well as try to mitigate impacts to communities as much as possible. One tool to use to track air quality and smoke impacts is fire.airnow.gov.
A new Smoke Complaint Hotline has been established at 928-226-4608 for the public to leave their name and number if they would like to speak to fire leadership regarding smoke impacts and prescribed burn concerns.
The upcoming prescribed burns support the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) and Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy. This landscape-level effort seeks to restore the structure, pattern, composition and health of fire-adapted ponderosa pine ecosystems in northern Arizona and uses a full suite of restoration approaches that are carried out by Forest Service personnel, partners, volunteers and contractors.