Fire managers on the Verde Ranger District will begin implementation on the Crater Prescribed Burn beginning Thursday, February 18th through Monday, March 1, 2021, pending favorable weather conditions. Fire Managers plan to use aerial ignitions to burn approximately 3,100 acres located 2 miles north of the junction at HWY 169 and County Road 75; near Powell Springs Campground and the community of Cherry (T14N, R3E, Sec 19, 20, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33). Favorable weather conditions, concurrence from ADEQ and an adequate number of fire management resources are a prerequisite to burning. Vegetation consists mainly of brush and some pine. Fire managers expect smoke impacts to the community of Cherry and along County 75 to be light.
In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to obey all traffic signs and use caution when traveling in the vicinity of the prescribed fire burn units as firefighters and fire-related traffic will be in the area. Drivers should be prepared for short delays on roads adjacent to the burn.
Prescribed fires are one of the most effective tools available to resource managers for restoring fire-adapted ecosystems. These burns will mimic natural fires by reducing hazardous fuels accumulations, and reintroduce fire into a fire dependent system, recycling nutrients and increasing habitat diversity. Prescribed fires are managed with firefighter and public safety as our first priority.
All prescribed fires activity is dependent on the availability of personnel and equipment, weather, fuels and conditions that minimize smoke impacts as best as possible and approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (www.azdeq.gov).
Messages will be posted to social media when managed fires are ignited on the Prescott National Forest: • Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF/) • Twitter (https://twitter.com/PrescottNF?lang=en)
For fire information please call (928) 925-1111; or stay up to date on Prescott National Forest news by checking the Prescott NF website and following us on Facebook and Twitter.
