Tag: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Fire restrictions begin Friday on Coconino National Forest

by Community Contributor • May 29, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino National Forest will implement Stage 1 fire and smoking restrictions 8 a.m., Friday, May 30, to help prevent human-caused fires and to limit the potential for catastrophic wildfires during periods of dangerous fire weather conditions.

Under Stage 1 restrictions, fires, campfires, charcoal, coal, wood stoves and smudge pots are prohibited, except within a developed recreation site. Smoking is also prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or an official developed recreation site.

Using a device that is solely fueled by pressurized liquid petroleum, propane or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off is allowed in areas that are barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of the device.

Crews responding to small wildfire east of Mormon Lake

by Community Contributor • May 27, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — Firefighters are responding to the Corral Fire, a 20-acre wildfire located roughly 2.5 miles east of Mormon Lake, 24 miles southeast of Flagstaff.

Resources assigned to the fire include one Hotshot crew, four engines and a water tender.

Crews plan to conduct several hours of firing operations today to contain the fire to a small footprint using forest roads as holding features.

Prescribed Burns planned on Coconino National Forest next week

by Community Contributor • May 16, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — As part of important active forest management, fire managers are planning a number of prescribed burn projects next week to reduce hazardous forest fuels in strategic areas of the national forest to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires to many northern Arizona communities.

Prescribed burns are always dependent upon multiple conditions, including personnel availability, fuel conditions, weather and approval from the Arizona Department of Environment Quality. The burns may be changed or canceled last-minute if burn conditions do not meet criteria outlined in advance.

Should wind and weather conditions become unfavorable, ignitions will be halted, and project plans will be postponed, changed or canceled. If that occurs, the updates will be posted on our Coconino NF Prescribed Burn Projects InciWeb page, which is updated any time new information is available. The following projects are listed in chronological order.

Proposed changes to recreation fees on the Coconino National Forest

by Community Contributor • May 12, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino National Forest is proposing changes to recreation fees at various recreation sites on the forest to help maintain highly-visited sites and standardize the recreation pass program for all forest visitors.

Most recreation sites on the forest will not require a fee, with more than 67% of sites on the forest remaining free for general public use and enjoyment. The forest will continue to honor the suite of “America the Beautiful” Interagency Passes and Red Rock Passes at all standard amenity fee sites and provide several fee-free days throughout the year. Also, the Sedona Shuttle program, which provides free transportation from two Park and Ride lots to popular recreation fee sites, will continue to operate.

Active forest management continues across Coconino National Forest next week

by Community Contributor • April 28, 2025 • Comments Off

Prescribed burns planned around Flagstaff (week of Jan. 27)

by Community Contributor • January 27, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — Area fire managers plan to continue work on local prescribed fire projects – including broadcast burning and pile burning – (week of Jan. 27) while northern Arizona’s wind and weather conditions remain favorable to do so.

Arizona State Department of Forestry and Fire Management and Coconino National Forest fire managers aspire to continue work on this week’s Crater Sinks prescribed burn project located roughly 12 miles southwest of Flagstaff.

Additionally, Coconino National Forest fire managers hope to begin work on pile burns located in various locations around the Flagstaff Ranger District.

Pumphouse Wash forest restoration work beginning south of Flagstaff

by Community Contributor • December 13, 2024 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — Both the Coconino National Forest and Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management are beginning a project aimed at restoring forest lands in the Pumphouse Wash area near Flagstaff’s Kachina Village community this week.

Crews are preparing for timber sales on a 2,500-acre parcel of land located near Kachina Village and Forest Highlands as part of the Pumphouse Community Protection Project.

Timber crews have started delineating project boundaries and designating trees to be removed as part of the thinning project.

Pile burn west of Flagstaff planned for (Nov. 1)

by Community Contributor • November 1, 2024 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — With predicted moisture in the next couple of days, fire managers with the Coconino National Forest are planning on conducting pile burns 4 miles west of Flagstaff, south of Interstate 40 along Naval Observatory Road.

Smoke will be visible to those in Flagstaff and motorists along I-40 and may impact areas of Flagstaff Ranch.

Volunteers sought for replanting trees on SF Peaks

by Community Contributor • August 13, 2024 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — Tree planting has begun on the east side of the San Francisco Peaks across approximately 380 acres, and volunteers are being sought to help in the replanting efforts on Saturday (Aug. 17) from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The planting is taking place between Schultz Pass Road and Waterline Road in an area that was previously replanted after the 2010 Schultz Fire. The 2022 Pipeline and Tunnel fires burned across the same area and resulted in a total loss of 3,000 acres of replanted trees.