FLAGSTAFF — Coconino National Forest fire managers with the Flagstaff Ranger District were expected to conduct pile burns in several areas around the forest to take advantage of favorable weather conditions.
The piles are leftover slash from previous thinning projects and are ignited using drip torches and carefully monitored. Burning these piles help remove forest fuels and reduce the chance of catastrophic wildfire.
Smoke was expected to noticeable to people in the immediate areas of these pile burns, and impacts may have been felt during the day in areas north/northeast of the piles due to the general wind direction coming from the southwest. In evening hours, smoke impacts will be felt in areas adjacent to the pile burns, as smoke tends to settle and flow like water to lower areas of elevation.
The following pile burns were planned for March 5:
- Aspen Walker Lake piles: located 14.5 miles northwest of Flagstaff.
- Fern Mountain piles: located 12.5 miles northwest of Flagstaff, near Hart Prairie Preserve.
- Hochderffer Aspen piles: located 14 miles northwest of Flagstaff, northeast of Arizona Nordic Village.
The following pile burns were planned for March 6:
- Mormon Lake Work Center piles: located at the Coconino NF Mormon Lake Work Center off Lake Mary Road, just south of Bennett Estates.
- Naval Observatory piles: located 4 miles west of Flagstaff and north of the Naval Observatory.
- Peaks Admin piles: located behind the Flagstaff Ranger Station across from the Flagstaff Mall.
- Pine Grove Admin piles: located 15 miles southeast of the Flagstaff, adjacent to Pine Grove Campground.