To reduce dangerous forest fuels and reduce the risk of wildfires in many Northern Arizona communities, up to four provisional burn projects are planned next week across the Coconino National Forest in the Flagstaff area (described in chronological order below).

Prescription burns are always dependent on multiple conditions, including availability of Arizona Department of Environmental Quality personnel, fuel condition, weather and approval. Prescription burns may be changed or cancelled if the burn conditions do not meet the pre-opened criteria.

Wind and weather conditions are at a disadvantage, ignitions will stop, and project plans will be postponed, altered or cancelled.

For updates at any time of the day, details and updates regarding all prescribed burn projects are available. Coconino NF has prescribed Burn Projects Inciweb pagenew information will be updated whenever it is available.

Flagstaff Urban Interface South – Campbell Mesa

• date: April 14, 2025.
• position: Flagstaff Ranger District. 7 miles east of FlagstaffAdjacent to the Continental/Country Club nearby
• size: 503 acres.
• Types of burns: Broadcast initial input and burning of maintenance. Broadcast burning means that firefighters use IV torches to spread the fire into the landscape, effectively “broadcast” the fire at low strength throughout the landscape. The first entrance means that it was an extended time since the fire was last applied to the landscape. Some areas consist of maintenance burning. This means that the area has recently been hit by fires, and the effects of smoke from those areas are lighter. Burning maintenance means that the fire has moved beyond that particular landscape in at least the past decade. Maintenance burns are used to “maintain” the area and usually produce less smoke due to the low amount of forest fuel.
• Smoke effects: The smoke effect on Doney Park and Cosnino is expected, but should be mild. The impact on Interstate 40 is expected at night.
• why: This prescribed burn reduces dangerous fuels in the area and creates a fire-resistant ecosystem. By reducing dangerous fuels such as pine trash and dry needles, in cool weather and low wind times, firefighters can create buffer zones to protect East Flagstaff homes and infrastructure from the risk of catastrophic wildfires during peak wildfire season.
• Note: Several trails in the Campbell Mesa System within the burn area will be closed during the day of the burn.

Horseshoe Maxwell Springs

• date: April 14th or 15th, 2025.
• position: Flagstaff Ranger District. 1.5 miles north of Belmont.
• size: 840 acres.
• Types of burns: Broadcast initial input and burning of maintenance.
• Smoke effects: Smoke can affect U.S. Highway 180 within and around the Fort Valley area during the day and night.
• why: This prescribed burn will reduce dangerous fuels in the area and create a fire-resistant ecosystem to protect Belmont, Fort Valley and Flagstaff communities from catastrophic wildfires.

Upper Beaver Creek

• date: April 15th to 17th, 2025.
• position: Red Rock Ranger District. 10 miles east of the village of Oak Creekjust south of Stoneman Lake.
• size: A total of 2,008 acres over three days.
• Types of burns: Broadcast maintenance burns.
• Smoke effects: Daytime ignitions produce smoke from I-17, north of Camp Verde and south of Mann’s Park. Smoke is displayed from Forest Road 213 (Stoneman Lake Road) and the Stoneman Lake Community. Smoke could settle in the drainage channels of Beaver Creek to the south and travel east to Lake Mary Road and Happy Jack areas.
• why: This burn project is to reduce dangerous fuels around the Stoneman Lake community and improve land habitats in the range of Apachemaid and Upper Beaver Cree Clean Range allocations.
• Note: There is no official closure. However, the public is encouraged to stay away from nearby surrounding areas. Overnight camping and recreational activities can be extremely smoky.

Blue Ridge Urban Interface

• date: April 17th-18th, 2025.
• position: Mogoronrim Ranger district. 7 miles northeast of Clint.
• size: A total of 3,181 acres over two days.
• Types of burns: Broadcast maintenance burns.
• Smoke effects: From burns in the evening and early morning hours, smoke can affect the state route 87 between mile markers 295 and 302. Smoke also affected the Greater Blue Ridge and Clear Creek Pines communities at the time.
• why: This prescribed burn reduces the dangerous fuel accumulated around the Blue Ridge community and limits the possibility of catastrophic wildfires.
• Note: Arizona National Scenic Trail is re-routed Forest Road 211 To turn around the burn area.

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