Wildland firefighters plan more prescribed fire operations southwest of Payson and in and around Pine through Friday, March 13th. Prescribed fire is always dependent on optimum weather conditions prior to ignition.
Payson Ranger District firefighters are approved to conduct prescribed fire operations to mitigate dense brush southwest of Payson beginning this morning. Firefighters using ground resources will manage the 500-acre burn.
Residents and visitors will see moderate to heavy smoke volume from 11 am to 4 pm during the prescribed operation. The smoke is expected to move in a northeasterly direction. There is projected to be little residual smoke by evening.
Payson Ranger District firefighters are also approved to conduct prescribed fire operations to eliminate vegetative debris piles in and around Pine through Friday. Residents and visitors can expect light to moderate smoke during the operation. Most smoke will probably dissipate by sundown. Residual smoke in the evening hours may settle in Pine Creek.
Firefighters will also conduct a prescribed broadcast burn in the Bray Creek area next week. The 300-acre burn will generate moderate to heavy smoke during the operation. Most smoke could dissipate by sundown. Residual smoke will probably move down Bray Creek in the evening but is likely to linger for a few days.
On March 2nd, Payson Ranger District firefighters were able to enhance 1000 acres of wildlife habitat in the Buckhead Mesa area. “From October 2008 to today we have treated 6,146 acres with prescribed fire,” said Gary Roberts, District Fire Prevention Officer. “This surpasses our original goal of 2,250 acres by a wide margin.”