Tonto National Forest firefighters will begin a one-day, prescribed pile burn on the Cave Creek Ranger District, April 25.
Firefighters will burn piles containing dead brush and limbs to reduce hazardous fuels on national forest land that is immediately adjacent to the communities of Rio Verde, Box-Bar Ranch, Ft. McDowell Indian Community, agriculture property and utility infrastructure. The unit is a 100-foot fuel break that totals 17 acres. In addition, the hazardous fuels reduction operation conducted along the community of Rio Verde will help residents maintain their Firewise status.
Reducing these hazardous fuels on national forest land bordering private/state lands can help limit the threat of wildfires to communities and infrastructure. All prescribed fires on the Tonto National Forest are approved through the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (AZDEQ) before ignitions begin. AZDEQ monitors air quality and determines whether it will be a good day for smoke dispersion. Although smoke from prescribed fire can still be noticeable, it is usually for a shorter time and considerably less smoke than wildfires produce. It is recommended that individuals with breathing issues should consider staying indoors and avoid smoke if present. For more information visit AZDEQ air quality webpage.
The completion of these projects reflects our partnerships with Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM), Rio Verde Fire Department and Scottsdale Fire Department in our collaborative efforts to reduce hazardous fuels around these communities.
Prescribed fire operations are part of the USDA Forest Service’s overarching wildfire crisis strategy to reduce wildfire risk to people, communities, and natural resources while sustaining and restoring healthy, resilient fire-adapted forests. Visit the Confronting the Wildfire Crisis webpage for information about the USDA Forest Service’s 10-year strategy to reduce the risk of wildfires to communities, critical infrastructure and natural resources from the nation’s ongoing wildfire crisis.
For additional information, contact the Cave Creek Ranger Station located 40202 North Cave Creek Rd., Scottsdale, Arizona. Or phone the station at (480) 595-3300 from Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
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