Flagstaff, AZ (4/18/23) – The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management begins two prescribed burn projects over the next few weeks in Northern Arizona as upcoming, favorable weather conditions allow. Both projects help with wildfire risk reduction and with overall forest health.
Flying M Ranch RX Burn:
On Thursday, April 20, firing operations start on the 1,600-acre Flying M Ranch RX Burn, east of Mormon Lake in Coconino County. The project is located on State Trust Land, approximately 30 miles southeast of Flagstaff and 10 miles south of Interstate 40. Burn managers expect the project to take two days with ignitions starting in the morning each day. Winds may push smoke to the northeast, but smoke should not impact I-40 and the Mormon Lake Community. Back in December, DFFM started the first phase of the project, and at that time, crews successfully completed burning 200 acres of State Trust Land.
Woodlands Ranch RX Burn:
On Wednesday, April 26, DFFM begins firing operations to the 1,500-acre Woodlands Ranch RX Burn, approximately eight miles north of State Route 64 and US 180, or the Valle/Grand Canyon Junction, and 13 miles south of Tusayan. This project on State Trust Land may take up to four days to complete and will be dependent on smoke output and weather conditions. Ignitions on this project also begin in the morning each day and smoke may be very visible from the Valle/Grand Canyon Junction-area. Predicted winds out of the southwest should push smoke off the project to the northeast toward SR 64 and US 89. However, the smoke should disperse prior to reaching the highways and have minimal impact to drivers in the area.
The Flying M Ranch and Woodlands Prescribed Fires provide for wildfire risk reduction by reducing hazardous fuels around infrastructure and nearby properties. The projects also provide for forest restoration and help maintain areas to keep forest fuels from accumulating which help mitigate extreme wildfire behavior. In turn, these projects ultimately keep communities safer and can help firefighters suppress potential wildfires by reducing the possibility of extreme wildfire behavior.
All prescribed burning operations, whether pile or broadcast burns, are weather dependent and may be cancelled or rescheduled due to current weather conditions or DFFM crew availability. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality must also approve burns prior to ignitions. DFFM and ADEQ work closely throughout the year to ensure safe burning environments with minimal smoke impacts to nearby communities. Prior to any DFFM burn, notifications will be made via the agency’s social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, and Nextdoor. For more information, contact Tiffany Davila at 602-540-1036 or by email at tdavila@dffm.az.gov.