Single Publication

Williams, Arizona, January 3, 2022 — Prescribed fire pile burning will be occurring across the south zone of the Kaibab National Forest beginning the first week of January on both the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts. 

Winter weather with snow on the ground present excellent opportunities every year for fire crews to burn and consume piled slash and woody debris left over from previous forest restoration projects. For the month of January, approximately 1100 acres of piles south and southwest of the city of Williams are planned for burning with an additional 500 acres on the Tusayan Ranger District.

Operations will be focused on the Williams district this week. On Monday January 3, about 11 acres of piles will be ignited near the peak of Bill Williams Mountain. The following two days crews will be working on the south side of the mountain and along forest road 122 burning another 1100 acres by the weekend.

Smoke will likely be visible from the City of Williams and several areas surrounding these burns including by travelers on Perkinsville Road (FS-73) and Interstate 40.

Smoke production is expected to be minimal after the first few hours with rapid dispersion as piles consume. Some smoke has potential to settle overnight into the lower elevations including on the 73-road due to fluctuating atmospheric temperatures that produce nighttime inversions.

Forest visitors are asked to avoid active hot areas and are reminded to use caution and drive with heightened awareness when passing through any prescribed fire project vicinity.  

All prescribed burning on the Kaibab National Forest is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

For additional information about the Smoke Management Division of the ADEQ and to view prescribed burn authorizations, please visit: legacy.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html

Additional fire information for Kaibab National Forest can be obtained through the following sources:

Fire Information Recorded Hotline: 928-635-8311

Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF

Kaibab Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF

Kaibab website “Recent News”: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

Kaibab South Zone Rx Fire: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5922/