Coconino National Forest firefighters plan to conduct two prescribed burns this week south of Flagstaff on Tuesday, June 11, and Thursday, June 13.

Favorable weather conditions are forecasted for burn projects near Kachina Village and Anderson Mesa, which will remove excess fuels from these areas. Firing ignitions begin at approximately 9 a.m. each morning.

• The Cherry 1&2 Project will take place Tuesday, June 11, 10 miles southeast of Flagstaff, southeast of Marshall Lake and on the east side of Forest Road 128 [GPS: 35.104350, -111.527867]. 

The one-day operation will burn 650 acres. Ventilation is predicted to move smoke toward the northeast and may be visible from Lake Mary Road, Elk Park Meadows and the southern portions of Flagstaff. Cooling temperatures in the evenings may cause smoke to settle in the low-lying areas surrounding the burn and Walnut Canyon National Monument.

This operation will force the rerouting of the Arizona Scenic Trail during the firing operations to keep users safe. Signs will be in place to redirect trail users.

• The Kachina Project will take place Thursday, June 13, nine miles southwest of Flagstaff and immediately southwest of Kachina Village [GPS: 35.086892, -111.715225]. 

The one-day operation will burn 600 acres. Ventilation is predicted to move smoke toward the northeast and may impact Interstate 17, the I-17 intersection with I-40, State Route 89A, Forest Highlands, Fort Tuthill and Flagstaff Pulliam Airport. Cooling temperatures in the evenings may cause smoke to settle in the low-lying areas surrounding the burn, such as James Canyon, Kelly Canyon and possibly Walnut Canyon National Monument.
 
The burns are part of a strategy to allow fire across the landscape in order to restore forests to healthier conditions and improve the safety of the communities around them. Frequent, low-intensity fire removes accumulated smaller fuels and recycles nutrients in the soils to promote healthy vegetation and wildlife habitat. A healthier forest is a safer forest for firefighters and residents when wildfires inevitably occur.
 
Prescribed burns are always dependent upon weather and wind conditions, as well as approval from Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). The public can view approved prescribed burns on ADEQ’s website at smoke.azdeq.gov. Coconino National Forest burns begin with the designation “COF.” 

Notifications of upcoming prescribed burns are provided regularly at Coconino NF’s Twitter account, website and Facebook page.
 
For more information about prescribed burns and the benefits of these fires across the landscape, visit the Prescribed Burns and Smoke webpage. As well, if you are interested in how prescribed burns are planned and implemented, please see the document “Planning for and Implementing Prescribed Fire in Fire-Dependent Forests,” by Ecological Restoration Institute.