Contributed Photo: The Wallow Fire burned the area of the prescribed burn in 2011.
Contributed Article
Springerville – The Alpine Ranger District on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests is planning a broadcast burn Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 4 and 5, as weather conditions allow. The unit was last burned in the Wallow Fire of 2011, with the northern part of the unit previously burned Oct. 15 to 17, 2019.
This burn will complete the last little piece of the Wallow West Unit 2B. It’s the block on Forest Road (FR) 25 and FR 68 junction and a couple blocks just south of the Arizona Game & Fish private property off the FR 25. This will be a maintenance burn, which will reduce the build-up of forest fuels and help reintroduce fire to the landscape, as well as protect the area south of Big Lake (see map).
Ignitions will be dependent on weather conditions and occur throughout the mornings, which will minimize the adverse effects of smoke on the local communities. Smoke will be visible from Alpine, along portions of Arizona State Hwy 180 and Hwy 191 and portions of Forest Road 249. Motorists are advised to drive safely as smoke may limit visibility. Lingering smoke may be present for up to one week after ignitions are complete. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and active prescribed burns can be found on the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s webpage: https://azdeq.gov/. Fire personnel will monitor the burn until it is completely out.
For further information, please contact the Alpine Ranger District at 928-339-5000 or through the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests email at as_portal_comments@usda.gov.
