WILLIAMS, Ariz., Feb. 25, 2020 - Kaibab National Forest fire crews on the Williams Ranger District will be igniting 78 acres of hand built slash piles located approximately 2 miles south of Spring Valley on the northwest slope of Government Hill on Wednesday this week.

Precipitation received over the weekend has produced beneficial conditions allowing crews to continue with fuels reduction treatments of this type that occur during the winter months of the year. Smaller units such as this pile burn will generally be short in duration and will generate less smoke with very little risk of spread due to dampened surfaces on the landscape.

Smoke is expected to move to the west during the day and may occasionally impact forest road 141 to the north. The burn will be visible to residents in Spring Valley, Pumpkin Center, and Parks including the I-40 corridor to the south, and Route 64 to the west. Ventilation is predicted to be very good with the majority of smoke dispersing by late afternoon leaving only minor impacts by early evening. Air quality will be monitored closely and actions will be taken as necessary to minimize the effects to all adjacent residential areas.

All prescribed burns are subject to approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Members of the public may view approved prescribed burns for any given day on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s website at smoke.azdeq.gov/

To learn more about smoke and public health, visit http://bit.ly/SmokeHealthAwareness

Notifications of upcoming prescribed fire projects are provided regularly by news releases throughout the year and through the following sources:

• InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5922/ 

• Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

• Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF

• Fire Information Recorded Hotline: (928) 635-8311

WILLIAMS, Ariz., Jan. 15, 2020 - Pile burning activity is occurring at multiple locations to the south and east of the City of Williams producing smoke that will be visible from various outlying locations around the greater Williams area. Burning is expected to continue through the remainder of this week as conditions allow.

Above average moisture levels accompanied by snow has presented model opportunities for crews on the Kaibab National Forest to continue implementing this type of fuels reduction work. Pile burns typically occur during the winter months when forest debris can be consumed safely with little to no control problems. This method is especially effective in steeper more difficult terrain when snow limits the potential for unwanted fire spread on the ground.

Crews will move between three locations this week from Garland Prairie to Bill Williams Mountain which will help minimize smoke impacts to specific areas and allow for quicker dispersion. Overnight ventilation is usually excellent with no residual smoke lingering by the following day. Piles typically burn rapidly and produce far less smoke for shorter durations than larger broadcast burns over the landscape.

The overall duration of these burns is influenced by daily weather conditions which determine the best days to burn effectively. Air quality will be monitored closely and actions will be taken as necessary to minimize the effects on adjacent residential areas.

All prescribed burns are subject to approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Members of the public may view approved prescribed burns for any given day on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s website at smoke.azdeq.gov/

To learn more about smoke and public health, visit http://bit.ly/SmokeHealthAwareness

Notifications of upcoming prescribed fire projects are provided regularly by news releases throughout the year and through the following sources:

• InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5922/ 

• Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

• Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF

• Fire Information Recorded Hotline: (928) 635-8311

WILLIAMS, Ariz., Jan. 13, 2020 - Fire crews on the Williams Ranger District on the Kaibab National Forest will be igniting about 150 acres of hand piles beginning Monday morning of this week along forest roads 111 and 122 about 5 miles south of Williams.  Operations could continue for up to three days providing conditions remain favorable for meeting fuels reduction objectives.

The protection of communities and vital resources from the threat of high-intensity wildfires has been identified as a top priority by multiple state, county, and federal land management agencies. This fuels reduction work is part of the ongoing forest restoration initiative that will be continuing in and around forested landscapes across northern Arizona.

Piles typically burn rapidly and produce far less smoke for shorter durations than larger broadcast burns over the landscape. Smoke may be visible from areas around the city of Williams and from the I-40 corridor during the day, however is not expected to linger after piles have consumed.

Air quality will be monitored closely and actions will be taken as necessary to minimize the effects on residential developed areas.

All prescribed burns are subject to approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Members of the public may view approved prescribed burns for any given day on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s website at smoke.azdeq.gov/

To learn more about smoke and public health, visit http://bit.ly/SmokeHealthAwareness

Notifications of upcoming prescribed fire projects are provided regularly by news releases throughout the year and through the following sources:

• InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5922/ 

• Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

• Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF

• Fire Information Recorded Hotline: (928) 635-8311

WILLIAMS, Ariz., Jan. 7, 2020 - Fire crews on the Williams Ranger District on the Kaibab National Forest will begin igniting large machine piles of slash on Wednesday morning of this week near Garland Prairie about 5 miles south of Interstate 40. The 550 acre "Isham" unit is specifically located north and east of the junction at forest roads 109 & 141 along the southwest side of Scholz Lake.

The protection of communities and vital resources from the threat of high-intensity wildfires has been identified as a top priority by multiple state, county, and federal land management agencies. This fuels reduction work is part of the ongoing forest restoration initiative that will be continuing in and around forested landscapes across northern Arizona.

Piles typically burn rapidly and produce far less smoke for shorter durations than larger broadcast burns over the landscape. Smoke will be visible from the I-40 corridor and surrounding communities of Garland Prairie and Pittman Valley, however is not expected to linger after piles have consumed.

Air quality will be monitored closely and actions will be taken as necessary to minimize the effects on residential developed areas.

All prescribed burns are subject to approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Members of the public may view approved prescribed burns for any given day on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s website at smoke.azdeq.gov/

To learn more about smoke and public health, visit http://bit.ly/SmokeHealthAwareness

Notifications of upcoming prescribed fire projects are provided regularly by news releases throughout the year and through the following sources:

• InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5922/ 

• Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

• Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF

• Fire Information Recorded Hotline: (928) 635-8311

WILLIAMS, Ariz., Dec. 3, 2019 — Ideal conditions presented with recent snowfall will allow fire managers on the Kaibab National Forest to continue meeting fuels reduction objectives by burning slash piles over the next several weeks at various locations.

Crews will be igniting piles today along the south and southeast side of Bill Williams Mountain about 5 miles south of the city of Williams. Once ignited, some of these piles will be visible on the upper slopes. Additional Locations for pile burning in the weeks ahead will include the Shiner unit just north of Barney Flat, the Isham unit just south of Scholz Lake, and the Round unit on the southeast side of Round Mountain.

Objectives for these pile burns include reducing fuels and improving overall forest health and resiliency. Piles are the result of forest restoration projects, and the purpose of burning them is to reduce forest fuels that could contribute to high-intensity wildfires.

Piles typically burn rapidly and produce far less smoke for shorter durations than larger broadcast burns over the landscape. Minimal to light smoke impacts are anticipated. However, air quality will be monitored closely and actions taken as necessary to minimize the effects on residential developed areas. There are no road or trail closures expected with the pile burns planned for the Williams Ranger District. Fire managers will continue to seek opportunities throughout the winter to conduct pile burns as conditions allow.

All prescribed burns are subject to approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Members of the public may view approved prescribed burns for any given day on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s website at smoke.azdeq.gov/

To learn more about smoke and public health, visit http://bit.ly/SmokeHealthAwareness

Notifications of upcoming prescribed fire projects are provided regularly by news releases throughout the year and through the following sources:

• InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5922/ 

• Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

• Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF

• Fire Information Recorded Hotline: (928) 635-8311

Recent wet weather has presented favorable opportunities for fire crews to burn piles on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. Fire personnel plan to begin work today in the Hardy project area, which is located about 10 miles northeast of the City of Williams.

Crews plan to ignite about 546 acres of piles along the south side of County Road 141 east of the Spring Valley area. The pile units are near Hardy Hill west of Sitgreaves Mountain. Objectives for these pile burns include reducing fuels and improving overall forest health and resiliency.

Piles typically burn rapidly and produce far less smoke for shorter durations than larger broadcast burns over the landscape. Minimal to light smoke impacts are anticipated. However, air quality will be monitored closely and actions taken as necessary to minimize the effects on residential developed areas. There are no road or trail closures expected with the pile burns planned for the Williams Ranger District.

The Kaibab National Forest is part of a fire-adapted ecosystem and is dependent on fire to play a natural role in maintaining forest health. Piles are the result of forest restoration projects, and the purpose of burning them is to reduce forest fuels that could contribute to high-intensity wildfires. Fire managers will continue to seek opportunities throughout the winter to conduct pile burns as conditions allow.

The public can view approved prescribed fires for any given day on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s website at https://smoke.azdeq.gov/. Prescribed fires on the Kaibab National Forest begin with the forest’s designator “KNF.” To learn more about smoke and public health, visit http://bit.ly/SmokeHealthAwareness.

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

• Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab  
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF  
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF  
• Fire Information Recorded Hotline: 928-635-8311
• Kaibab South Zone Rx Fire: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5922/

Due to recent precipitation received on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest, fire managers plan to conduct pile burning beginning today and continuing through the middle of next week.

The piles are the result of forest restoration projects, and the purpose of burning them is to reduce forest fuels that could contribute to high-intensity wildfires. Fire managers will continue to seek opportunities throughout the winter to conduct pile burns. Areas to be treated when conditions are favorable are as follows:

• West of Grand Canyon Airport. 375 acres of piles are located north of Forest Road 335 and along FR 2604.

• East of Highway 64. 144 acres of piles are located about 2 miles south of the Town of Tusayan and north of FR 2708.

• East of Ten-X Campground. 189 acres of piles are located north of FR 688 near Charley Tank.

• North of Russell Tank in the Russell Project area. 44 acres of piles are located south of FR 310 and north of Russell Tank.

There are no road or trail closures expected with any of the pile burns planned for the Tusayan Ranger District. Minimal to light smoke impacts are anticipated in the immediate vicinity of the pile burns. Smoke production from burning piles tends to be less than from broadcast prescribed fires, as piles typically burn rapidly and over a shorter duration. However, fire managers will be monitoring smoke production and adjusting the number of acres of piles to be ignited based on observed impacts.

The Kaibab National Forest is part of a fire-adapted ecosystem and is dependent on fire to play a natural role in maintaining forest health. Objectives for these pile burns include reducing fuels resulting from previous forest restoration projects and improving overall forest health and resiliency.

The public can view approved prescribed fires for any given day on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s website at https://smoke.azdeq.gov/. Prescribed fires on the Kaibab National Forest begin with the forest’s designator “KNF.” To learn more about smoke and public health, visit http://bit.ly/SmokeHealthAwareness.

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

• Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab  
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF  
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF  
• Fire Information Recorded Hotline: 928-635-8311
• Kaibab South Zone Rx Fire: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5922/

TUSAYAN, Ariz., Nov 15, 2019 — Kaibab National Forest fire managers will be continuing treatments on the Russell Prescribed Fire project located on the Tusayan Ranger District approximately 18 miles southeast of the town of Tusayan beginning Tuesday of this week. A 700 acre unit will be the first of several blocks to be ignited within the 2130 acre project area in the days ahead providing forest and weather conditions remain favorable to meet land management objectives.

The Kaibab National Forest is a fire adapted ecosystem. It is dependent on fire to play a natural role in maintaining vibrant forest health. Lack of fire in the forest has caused an abundance of fuels to build up, which can make the forest vulnerable and susceptible to more dangerous uncontrollable fire incidents. Reintroducing fire back into the ecosystem is a very effective tool to reduce fuel loads and restore the landscape back to a healthier state that is more aligned with historical conditions. 

Fire managers strive to minimize smoke impacts and will only conduct ignitions when conditions exist that will allow smoke to ventilate away from sensitive areas. Smoke is expected to disperse to the northeast during the day however residual smoke may settle into drainages and low lying areas overnight but will dissipate rapidly throughout the morning hours.

During operations, fire personnel and vehicles working in these vicinities will be visible to the public. Motorists are reminded to use caution and drive with heightened awareness when passing through active project areas.

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 www.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/

Operations may continue throughout the week as weather conditions permit. Daily ignitions will only occur when environmental factors align with the required prescription that will achieve desired results and meet land management objectives.

The 7400 acre prescribed burn area is located just north of the City of Williams and Interstate 40, east of Forest Road 124, and west of Airport Road and Highway 64. Goals of the prescribed fire treatment include decreasing the threat of unnatural severe wildfire by reducing accumulated fuels, improving forest health, and reintroducing fire to the landscape that aligns with the desired historical condition.

The project will be broken into smaller units that will be scheduled to be burned on days that will help to allow smoke to disperse away from developed areas and ventilate quicker reducing the impacts to local communities.

Area residents can expect to see and hear a helicopter in the area, as aerial ignitions will occur on portions of the burn. Smoke will be highly visible from the City of Williams and from roadways and recreation areas in the general vicinity of this project. Specific areas from which smoke is likely to be noticeable include H.A. Clark Memorial Field airport, Kaibab Lake, portions of State Route 64, Valle, the City of Williams, and Interstate 40. Smoke is expected to lift during the day and travel northeast toward Red Lake Valley. However, cooler overnight temperatures may cause smoke to settle into low-lying areas surrounding the burn location.

Fire managers are aware that community members may be sensitive to the smoke produced, and they make every effort to limit the amount and duration of production. Prescribed fires with short-term impacts to air quality can help prevent future severe unplanned wildfires under unpredictable conditions with smoke that may pose significant risks to public health and safety.

To learn more about smoke and public health, visit bit.ly/SmokeHealthAwareness.

No road or trail closures are planned as part of this project however motorists are reminded to watch for traffic control personnel on Interstate 40 and the Highway 64 corridor and drive with heightened awareness when passing through active project areas.

All prescribed burns are subject to approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Members of the public may view approved prescribed burns for any given day on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s website at smoke.azdeq.gov/

Notifications of upcoming prescribed fire projects are provided regularly by news releases throughout the year and through the following sources:

• InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5922/ 

• Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

• Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF

• Fire Information Recorded Hotline: (928) 635-8311

Williams, Ariz., Oct 24, 2019—For Immediate Release. Fire crews have successfully treated 8152 acres of forested landscape over the past 4 days bringing the Elk / Lee Prescribed Fire Project to full completion.
Located 10 miles south of Williams on the northwest side of Sycamore Canyon, this project was identified by local fire managers as a high priority area in need of fuels reduction on the Williams Ranger District.

"Critical watersheds that supply water to several of the communities to the south in the Verde Valley will now be better protected from the threat of a destructive wildfire" said Fuels Program Manager Mike Uebel. "This type of burning not only helps protect these resources but also restores these landscapes to a more sustainable healthier condition".

Officials recognize the inconvenience that smoke has caused for many residents who experienced impacts from this burn. Smoke is an unfortunate and unavoidable byproduct of this work. One of the goals is to limit the number of days that smoke is in the air as opposed to an uncontrolled wildfire where smoke can be much denser and linger for prolonged periods of time.
Kaibab National Forest officials are grateful for the patience and support of all members of the public from the surrounding communities who were affected by this project. To learn more about smoke and public health, visit bit.ly/SmokeHealthAwareness

All prescribed burning on the Kaibab National Forest is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. (ADEQ) To view approved prescribed burns for any given day on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s website go to: www.azdeq.gov/node/230

Notifications of upcoming prescribed fire projects are provided regularly by news releases throughout the year and through the following sources:

• InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5922/ 

• Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

• Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF

• Fire Information Recorded Hotline: (928) 635-8311