3 fires in Coconino, Rx burn in Pleasant Valley

The following fires are being managed by the Mogollon Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest.

Zeus Fire> Nine acres. Has become active with the drying trend. During the evening and early morning hours, anticipate smoke on Hwy. 87 and  Hwy. 260. It could be heavy at times.

Sand Rock Fire> 305 acres. Moving slower than the Zeus Fire. Smoke may be present along Hwy. 87 and Hwy. 260. In the evenings and early morning hours, smoke will flow into Calf Pen Canyon and Fossil Springs Wilderness.

Scout Fire> 175 acres. Smoke should increase and impact the communities within the Blue Ridge area and will also be visible from the Payson area.


Meanwhile, Pleasant Valley Ranger District fire specialists will be conducting a series of prescribed fire operations in the Cherry analysis area of approximately 5,700 acres through September on the Tonto National Forest.

As weather conditions permit, a black line will be put around several burn blocks, treating up to several hundred acres daily, dependent on air quality conditions.

Prescription fire requests must be approved by Arizona Department of Environmental Quality for each day of the burning operations. As weather permits, after the black line is complete, aerial ignition of the interior portion of the burn blocks will be conducted.

The Cherry prescribed fire will be along both sides of State Highway 288 and are composed of three planning units (or blocks):

Peters Corral block boundaries: Beginning at FS Rd. 238 and State Hwy 288, south on Hwy 288 to FS Rd. 416 (Buzzard Roost Rd.) west along FS Rd. 416, north to private land boundary, continuing east along southern boundary of private land, at the southeast corner north to junction of private land and FS Rd. 238, north along southern side of FS Rd. 238 to the starting point.

Squaw Mesa block boundaries: The northern boundary is Graveyard Canyon beginning at the confluence with State Hwy 288 east to the bluff line, south along the bluff line of Squaw Mesa to its junction with FS Rd. 203, west to Hwy 288, and north on Hwy 288 to the starting point. This individual burn block was black-lined to the north and east last spring and fall.

Snow Tank block block boundaries: The southern boundary is Graveyard Canyon beginning at the confluence with State Hwy 288 east to a two-track road, west along the two-track (old dump road) to its junction with Hwy 288, south on Hwy 288 to the starting point at Graveyard Canyon.

Residual smoke will be seen for a several days after ignition.

Prescribed fire treatments are always dependent on optimal weather conditions, such as fuel moisture content, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and directions, and other variables.

For further information, please call the Pleasant Valley Ranger District at 928-462-4300. Residents can also stay updated on prescribed fires at www.fs.usda.gov/Tonto. To report a wildland fire, the fire emergency number is 866-746-6516, or dial 9-1-1.