A five-day prescribed burn operation is planned this week near Payson and Pine. Prescribed fire is always dependent on optimum weather conditions such as ideal relative humidity, temperature, wind speed and direction, and fuel moisture content prior to ignition.
Beginning today Jan. 12th, the Payson ranger district fire specialists plan to burn vegetative debris piles north and east of Pine through Friday Jan. 16th. Fire officials plan to eliminate 450 acres of debris piles, each weighing a half-ton up to one-and-a-half tons, by the end of the five-day prescribed burning operation. Residents and visitors to the area can expect to see light to moderate amounts of smoke each day of the operation that will move up and over Milk Ranch Point and the Mogollon Rim. Most smoke will dissipate by 3 pm. Diurnal air flow will move residual smoke in the evening hours down Pine Creek.
Fire officials also plan to eliminate vegetative debris piles with prescription fire in the following locations: north of Home Depot and Payson Pines in Payson; along a ridge west of Payson and north of Oxbow Estates; north of Round Valley turnoff off Hwy. 87; and south of Oxbow Estates. Approximately 350 acres in these areas remain to be treated with prescription fire. Residents and visitors to the area can expect to see light to moderate amounts of smoke each day of the prescription burning operation. Most smoke will dissipate by sundown. Diurnal air flow will move residual smoke down Lousy Gulch and Rye Creek in the evening hours, except in the location north of Home Depot and Payson Pines, where residual smoke may linger in the area during evening hours.
“While reducing the threat of catastrophic wildfire danger to Rim Country communities as fire officials work to meet their hefty workload of treating 2,250 strategically critical acres with prescribed fire before the start of the next fire season, there are going to be times when smoke may briefly impact communities. As we continue to work to protect Rim Country communities from destructive wildland fires, we very much appreciate the support, understanding, and patience of Rim Country residents,” said Gary Roberts, Payson Ranger District, Fire Prevention Officer.