Prescribed fires are essential tools for restoring the forest in our fire-adapted ecosystem, and smoke is an unavoidable byproduct of these vital efforts. Fire managers strive to minimize smoke impacts to the community as much as possible. They burn when winds and other atmospheric conditions will push the majority of smoke away from homes; they will burn larger sections at a time to limit the number of days smoke is in the air, and they work closely with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, as well as neighboring forests to monitor air quality.Crews also seek opportunities to use slash from thinning projects around the community instead of burning it. It is often used s filler at the landfill and offered as firewood to community members. Forests need the frequent, low intensity fire to remove accumulated smaller fuels and recycle nutrients into the soils to promote healthy vegetation and wildlife habitat. A healthier forest is a safer forest for firefighters and residents... […]

Fire managers on the Kaibab National Forest continue working on the 2018 fall prescribed fire burn plan and will implement broadcast burns near Tusayan and south of Williams in the days ahead.. The specific units to be ignited will be chosen based on fuel moistures and weather conditions that are within prescriptive levels that meet fuels reduction objectives. The flowing project areas are planned for treatments on both the Tusayan and Williams Ranger Districts: Sunflower Rx Project: Southeast of Williams, approximately 12,000 acres. Green Base Rx Project: North of Williams near Three Sisters, approximately 7500 acres. Reed Rx Project South and northeast of Tusayan, approximately 3200 acres Russell Rx Project Southeast of Tusayan, approximately 4000 acres The Reed and Sunflower projects are currently active and may continue as weather and forest conditions permit.Currently about 1500 acres have been successfully treated this week on both districts. […]