Fire managers on the Verde Ranger District plan to ignite and burn approximately 1,053 acres of the Agua Fria RX. Ignitions are planned to start on Monday, July 1, 2024, pending favorable weather conditions and resource availability. The Aqua Fria RX is located east of I-17 near the Dugas Exit and north of County Road 171 (T13N, R3E, Section 22, 27) and should be completed in one day.
Smoke will be visible from Prescott Valley, Dewey, Mayer, Spring Valley, Cordes Lakes, Camp Verde, and the I-17 corridor. Expect light to moderate volume of smoke during daylight hours and overnight smoke impacts in the immediate area and surrounding low lying areas. Those traveling on I-17 can expect to see smoke on the road and are advised to obey all traffic signs and use caution when traveling in the vicinity of the burn as firefighters and fire-related traffic will be in the area.
The objective of the Aqua Fria RX is to increase vegetation diversity, improve wildlife habitat and reduce invasive plants. This project will also help encourage growth of native grasses and improve range habitat for permittee grazing allotments. The prescribed burn plan criteria for this project includes hot, dry conditions that are necessary to stimulate grass growth. Fire managers are closely monitoring weather and fuels conditions with equal attention to the wildfire activity and firefighting resources on the Prescott National Forest as well the resource availability of nearby wildland fire partner agencies.
Prescott National Forest’s land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health and the strategy includes reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape. Using low to moderate fire behavior, we can better protect communities, while improving watersheds, wildlife habitat, and forest health.
All prescribed fire activity is dependent on the availability of personnel and equipment, weather, fuels and conditions that minimize smoke impacts as much as possible, and approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (www.azdeq.gov).
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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.
