Tag: Flagstaff Ranger District (FRD)

Seasonal road closures beginning on Coconino National Forest

In an effort to protect forest roads from damage, the Coconino National Forest has started closing forest roads in the Flagstaff Ranger District (FRD) for the winter and will continue closing roads over the course of the coming weeks across the forest in higher elevations.

While the FRD has closed forest roads north of Interstate 40 along U.S. Highway 180 and U.S. Highway 89, many forest roads currently remain open due to low levels of snow and precipitation.

Seasonal road closures on each district of the Coconino NF occur at different times each year and depend on weather forecasts and road conditions.

Forest visitors are encouraged to check forest road statuses prior to any excursion by visiting the Coconino NF’s Forest Roads Status web page.

Prescribed fire project northwest of San Franscisco Peaks postponed until Friday

FLAGSTAFF — Flagstaff Ranger District (FRD) fire managers have temporarily paused firing operations on the Horseshoe Project, located 5 miles directly north of Bellemont, today due to higher-than-expected humidity levels.

Wednesday’s firing operations successfully treated 768 acres of land. Operations that had been tentatively scheduled for today have been postponed to tomorrow.

“Prescribed fire operations are both an art and a science,” said Burn Boss Ryan Rawlinson, FRD Fuels Assistant Fire Management Officer. “We have to have the right temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, staffing levels and fuel moisture. Anything less than perfect isn’t enough for us to proceed.”