The Flagstaff Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest plans to begin burning an area called the Horseshoe Wild Bill Project along the west side of Route 180.

Forest officials said regular burnings are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday but could be canceled if weather conditions, including temperature, wind and humidity, do not meet the criteria set out in the burning plan.

The burning follows a similar effort earlier this month in partnership with the Southwest Province of Flagstaff and is part of a new Forest Service initiative to increase prescribed burning and other treatments across the landscape. It is part of

Open burning aims to reduce the risk of devastating wildfires and improve forest health.

The planned area has been free of fires for many years, and forest managers say thicker smoke is likely at the start of the project.

During the day, winds from the southwest should disperse the smoke to the northeast and north of the San Francisco Mountains, and smoke may affect areas along highways.

Firefighters will be coordinating with the Arizona Department of Transportation about when to enforce fire-related traffic restrictions. At night, smoke could flow southwest into Belmont and impact Interstate 40.

There are no expected road or trail closures.

Smoke is visible from some areas of the forest during prescribed burns. Officials are urging the public to refrain from calling ambulances or 911 to report routine combustion smoke to keep lines open in case of an emergency.