Fire Managers on the Chino Valley Ranger District plan to conduct several prescribed fire operations in the Chino Landscape Restoration Project area at multiple locations next week (see map). Ignitions are planned to start Monday March 6, 2023, and continue through Sunday March 12, 2023, pending suitable conditions. This project is part of the Chino Landscape Restoration where fire crews plan to treat a large surface area with broadcast burning, improving wildlife habitat and the resiliency of forest ecosystems. Smoke production will be light and visible from multiple locations including Chino Valley, Paulden, Williamson Valley, Prescott, and Prescott Valley but should be short in duration.

 The following burns are planned:

-Sinks RX - 367 acres

-Wineglass RX - 1963 acres

-Wagon Tire RX - 593 acres

Ignitions will depend upon agency administrator approval and conditions within the ranges outlined in burn plans. Burn plans consider temperature, humidity, wind, moisture of the vegetation and conditions for dispersal of smoke.   

Prescribed fires are utilized to remove hazardous fuels and return nutrients to the soils when seasonal weather opportunities allow for the use of fire safely and effectively. Reducing hazardous fuels will help reduce the threat of high-severity, high-intensity wildfire to the public, adjacent private property, and communities.

In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to obey all traffic signs and use caution when traveling in the vicinity of the prescribed burn as firefighters and fire-related traffic will be in the area.

Prescott National Forest’s land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health and the strategy includes reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape.  Using low to moderate fire behavior, we can better protect communities, while improving watersheds, wildlife habitat, and forest health. 

All prescribed fire activity is dependent on the availability of personnel and equipment, weather, fuels, and conditions that minimize smoke impacts as much as possible, and approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (www.azdeq.gov).

Messages will be posted on social media when managed fires are ignited on the Prescott National Forest:

-Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF/

-Twitter https://twitter.com/PrescottNF

For fire information please call (928) 925-1111; or stay up to date on Prescott National Forest news by checking the Prescott NF website and following us on Facebook and Twitter.