Wildland firefighters plan more prescribed fire operations this week near Pine. Prescribed fire is always dependent on optimum weather conditions prior to ignition.
Payson Ranger District is approved to commence prescribed fire operations today through Friday west of Pine in the Camp Geronimo, Geronimo Estates and East Bray Creek area.
Firefighters expect moderate to heavy smoke each day of the operation. Most smoke will dissipate by evening with daily air flow moving the residual smoke down Pine Creek and Strawberry Creek.
“Our goal is to eliminate surface fuels and reduce catastrophic wildfire danger,” said Gary Roberts, District Fire Prevention Officer. “The prescription burn will stimulate valuable nutrient release back into the soil.”
By eliminating dense and dying fuels on the forest floor, the prescribed fire will allow for accelerated decomposition of vegetative debris. This makes the soil more fertile.
“We have burned 4,320 acres with prescribed fire since last October,” Roberts continued. “We are closing in on our goal of burning a total of 5,000 acres before the start of the active fire season.”
Last week (Jan. 26th to Jan. 29th) firefighters treated critical acreage south of Round Valley and south of Oxbow Estates.