Category Archives: Prescott National Forest

Forest Service hosts community meetings for proposed Yavapai-Apache Nation Land Exchange

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PRESCOTT — The Prescott, Coconino, Kaibab, and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests have begun the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process for a proposed land exchange with the Yavapai-Apache Nation and a Draft Environmental Assessment is available for public review and comment. The Forest Service is hosting two informational community meetings: January 17 in Camp Verde and January 18 in Prescott. These are open house format. Agency leadership, subject matter experts, and resource specialists will be on hand to answer questions and provide instructions for submitting formal comments.

Camp Verde Open House
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Phillip England Auditorium, 210 Lincoln Rd.

Prescott Open House
Thursday, January 18, 2024,
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
The Center, 1280 E. Rosser St.

The Yavapai-Apache Nation Federal Land Exchange involves the proposed exchange to the United States of approximately 4,782 acres of inholdings within the National Forest System, owned by the Yavapai-Apache Nation. The Nation’s exchange lands include six parcels located in four national forests – Prescott, Coconino, Kaibab, and Apache Sitgreaves – all of which are surrounded by National Forest System lands. In exchange, the Nation would receive approximately 3,201 acres of federal land, most of which is in the wildland-urban interface, and nearly all of which is contiguous to the Nation’s existing lands near Camp Verde, Arizona.

The Draft Environmental Assessment and supplemental materials can be found on the project website at fs.usda.gov/project/prescott/?project=63848. Additional information is also available at yavapai-apache.org/land-exchange/.

Forest Service goes into Stage 1 Fire Restrictions May 5

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Beginning Thursday, May 5 at 8:00 a.m., Stage 1 fire and smoking restrictions will be in effect on the Williams and Tusayan Districts (aka “South Zone”) of the Kaibab National Forest and the entirety of the Coconino National Forest.

Under Stage 1 restrictions, fires, campfires, charcoal, coal, and wood stoves are prohibited, except within a developed recreation site. Smoking is also prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or a developed recreation site. Fireworks are always prohibited on all national forest and state lands.Using a device that is solely fueled by pressurized liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off is allowed in areas that are barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within three feet of the device.

Fire restrictions are implemented to help prevent human-caused fires and to limit the exposure of visitors during periods of potentially dangerous fire conditions. Decisions about fire restrictions are based on a combination of carefully measured factors. Criteria used to determine when to implement restrictions include current and predicted weather, fuel moisture, fire activity levels, enduring drought, and available firefighting resources.

Additional restrictions could be forthcoming if conditions warrant. Fire restrictions typically remain in effect until the area receives significant, widespread precipitation. Violations could result in mandatory appearance in a federal court, fines, or jail time. The public is reminded to always be extra cautious when recreating on public lands, regardless of restrictions.

For information on all Arizona state and federal fire restrictions, including an interactive map, visit wildlandfire.az.gov/fire-restrictions. Additional information about the stages of fire restrictions, Forest Orders, and general forest conditions can be found at fs.usda.gov/kaibab and fs.usda.gov/coconino.

Verde River reopens following Backbone Fire closure

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FLAGSTAFF – The lower Verde River affected by the 2021 Backbone Fire has reopened to recreationists while other nearby areas – including Childs Camping area and Fossil Creek – remain closed.
The Childs Dispersed Camping area will remain closed to river entry and exit, day use and camping. Visitors are, however, welcome to float the river past Childs. River users should plan to take out at Gap Creek or be prepared to go more than 40 river miles further to Sheep Bridge or Horseshoe Reservoir.
The Fossil Creek corridor will remain closed due to potential post-fire hazards, including snags (dead trees), flash floods, debris flows and debris dams. The Fossil Creek closure order is set to expire at the end of 2022. It could be rescinded earlier if conditions are deemed safe enough to open the area or could be extended further if conditions are still dangerous.
A new closure order and closure map have been released detailing restricted areas. The Coconino NF will communicate all changes to the closure order as they occur, and updates about Fossil Creek conditions will be recorded and posted on the Fossil Creek Hotline at 928-226-4611.
Photos of both Fossil Creek damage and Fossil Creek assessments are available online via the Coconino NF’s Flickr page.

Tunnel Fire and Crooks Fire updates

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FLAGSTAFF/PRESCOTT — The Tunnel Fire in Flagstaff has grown to over 16,000 acres and a Type 1 Incident Management Team has been ordered and is scheduled to arrive Thursday. High winds have grounded air resources which are unable to fly due to wind thresholds for aircraft during firefighting operations.

Some structures have been lost. Unofficial reports are some houses are lost. Some reports are that the fire acted so swiftly that some animals were spooked and have been lost.

Coconino County Emergency Management has set up a call center for evacuees at 928-679-8525.

The Crooks Fire 11 miles south of Prescott Arizona is now 1600 Acres.

The restricted area for the fire consists of all National Forest System lands, waters, roads, and trails within the boundary starting at the intersection of State Route 89 and the National Forest (NF) boundary, proceeding east along the NF boundary for approximately 10 miles, then following the NF boundary south for approximately 6 miles, then following the NF boundary east for approximately 2 miles, then following the NF boundary south for approximately 6 miles, then following the NF boundary for approximately 1 mile to the junction with County Road 177, then following County Road 177 for approximately 10 miles to the intersection with Forest Road (FR) 52, then following FR 52 south for approximately 3 miles to the intersection with Forest Trail (FT) 275, then following FT 275 west for approximately 4 miles to the intersection with FR 82A, then following FR 82A southwest for approximately 5 miles to the intersection with FR 94, then following FR 94 northwest for approximately 3 miles to the junction with the NF boundary, then following the NF boundary north for 1 mile, then following the NF boundary west for 4 miles, then following the NF boundary north for approximately 5 ½ miles to the intersection with State Route 89, then following the eastside of State Route 89 northeast for approximately 13 miles back to the point of beginning at State Route 89 and the junction of the NF boundary. State Route 89 remains open.

A Community Meeting for the Crooks Fire will be held on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at 6:30 pm at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, 3700 Willow Creek Dr. Prescott, AZ

The meeting will be live streamed to the Prescott National Forest Facebook and you do NOT need an account to watch. If you are unable to attend, the recording will be available to view afterwards at https://www.facebook.com/PrescottNF . ASL Interpreter and Closed Captioning services will be provided.

Firefighters Respond to Wildfire South of Prescott near Mt Union

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PRESCOTT — At approximately 10:00 AM on Monday, April 18, 2022, resources from Prescott National Forest responded to a reported wildfire south of Prescott near Mt Union. The Crooks fire is burning through brush, ponderosa pine and mixed conifer. Local resources including aircraft have been working throughout the day in rugged terrain identifying hazards and scouting control feature as the begin to suppress the fire. Resources including crews, engines and aircraft are on scene and have been ordered. Smoke may be visible from multiple locations including Chino Valley, Mayer, and Prescott Valley.

Road closures include Goodwin Road – Crown King to Senator Highway; Walker Road is blocked at Senator Hwy, Lower Wolf Creek Road is closed at Senator Hwy and Big Bug Mesa Road is closed at Goodwin Road. As a reminder to the public, with the increased fire vehicles in the area, for public and firefighter safety people should not travel into any of the fire area.

The cause of the 500-acre fire is still under investigation.

The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office has issued a mandatory evacuation for residents located near Mt. Union and Camp Kippa. For more information visit: https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go.

Full forest closure for the Prescott National Forest

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PRESCOTT — Due to fire danger, dry conditions, and persistent wildfire activity during a time when firefighting resources are scarce, the entirety of the Prescott National Forest will close for public safety, beginning Friday (June 25) at 8 a.m.

A full forest closure means that the public is prohibited from entering any part of the Prescott National Forest at any time. Those with private inholdings will be allowed access to their property, as well as personnel providing critical utility support and firefighters performing official duties. In addition, work on thinning and other forest and watershed restoration projects will cease.

Forest Service personnel will attempt to reach as many people as possible to begin vacating campsites and informing individuals who are currently camping in the forest. Campers and visitors should vacate their campsites before the closure begins, and the public should cancel any plans for visiting the Prescott National Forest for the next several weeks.

Though parts of the national forest may receive rain from sporadic storms over the next couple of weeks, this closure will not be rescinded until sufficient precipitation is received to adequately reduce the risk of wildfire, and hot, dry weather conditions are no longer forecast. In short, this closure will continue until conditions are such that the closure can be lifted.

The violation of closures and fire restrictions carries a mandatory appearance in federal court, punishable as a Class B misdemeanor with a fine of up to $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or up to six months in prison, or both.

Storm Sparks Eight Fires on North End of Prescott National Forest

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  • Location: Eight different fires across the north end of the Chino Valley Ranger District
  • Start Date: 6/17/2021-6/18/2021
  • Size: Rock Butte -120 acres, Red Hat – 49 acres, Limestone – 33 acres, Silent – 26 acres, Rafael – 9 acres, Sandflat – 5 acres, Archibald – 3 acres, Hornet – 1 acre
    Percent Contained: Varies among fires
  • Cause: Lightning
  • Vegetation: Grass, Brush, and Pinyon juniper

Summary: Fire managers’ main objective today is determining access routes for the various fires. Yesterday they were able to put retardant on several of the fires. All of the fires were started by the lightning storm that passed through on Thursday. Due to the extreme drought conditions, all fires are being managed in a full suppression mode. Some of the fires are in remote locations and are being monitored via air until ground crews can gain access.
The Silent and Rock Butte Fires are just north of Paulden. The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office has issued a “ready status for the area north of Paulden . Under “ready” conditions, residents are asked to stay informed through local media and public safety officials. (https://www.facebook.com/YavapaiCountySheriff/ ).
Red Hat and Limestone Fires lie a few miles to the northwest of Paulden. The Rafael Fire lies about 2 miles north of Perkinsville; the Sand Flat, Archibald and Horney Fires lie 3-4 miles north of Perkinsville.

Resources: 1-Air Attack, 1-Type 3 Helicopter, 3-Engines, 2-Hotshot Crews, 1-Fire Crew

Weather: Hot very dry conditions through Sunday with temperatures peaking in the afternoons around 100 and overnight to early morning temps in the 60’s, relative humidity ranging from 10-30%, winds out of the East at 5 MPH, shifting in the afternoon to the West up to 20 mph. There is a 0% chance for precipitation to occur in the area.

Closures: None at this time.

Fire Restrictions Elevated to Stage 2 Across All National Forest and Coconino County

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WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest will implement Stage 2 fire restrictions across the entire forest on June 11 at 8 a.m. due to increasing fire danger and the need to prevent human-caused wildfires during potentially dangerous fire conditions.

Stage 2 Fire Restrictions also go into effect in the Coconino and Prescott Forests and Coconino County.

A temporary area closer order will also be implemented to protect the Bill Williams Mountain watershed just southwest of the City of Williams due to the area’s susceptibility to uncharacteristically severe wildfire and the post-wildfire flooding that would potentially result.

STAGE 2 PROHIBITIONS:

1. Igniting, building, maintaining, or using a fire, including charcoal and briquettes.
2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three (3) feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of any flammable material.

THE FOLLOWING ACTS ARE PROHIBITED FROM 9:00 A.M. TO 8:00 P.M.:

3. Operating a generator, chainsaw or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine for felling, bucking, skidding, processing, road building and woodcutting during industrial operations or firewood gathering capable of igniting a fire.
4. Using an explosive.
5. Blasting, welding, or operating any acetylene or other torch with an open flame.

EXEMPTIONS:

1. Persons using a stove or grill that is solely fueled by pressurized liquid petroleum or pressurized liquid petroleum gas (LPG) fuels in an area at least three (3) feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of any flammable material.
2. Persons operating generators with an approved spark arresting device in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of the generator.

CLOSURE AREA:

The restricted area in the Bill Williams Mountain Closure consists of all National Forest System lands, roads, and trails within the boundary beginning at the junction of County Road (CR) 73 and eastbound Old Route 66 in the City of Williams, then traveling south along CR 73 to its junction with Forest Road (FR)122, then following FR 122 west to its junction with FR 108, then following FR 108 north to its junction with I-40, then following I-40 east to the junction with Old Route 66 at the Country Club exit, then following Old Route 66 east, back to the point of beginning at its junction with CR 73, as depicted in Exhibit A of Order Number 03-07-21-13.

Fire restrictions are implemented to help prevent unwanted, human-caused fires and to limit the exposure of visitors during periods of potentially dangerous fire conditions.

These decisions normally occur when fire danger levels are very high and the potential for wildfire occurrences significantly increase. Criteria used to determine when to implement restrictions include carefully measuring current and predicted weather, fuel moisture, fire activity levels, enduring drought, and available firefighting resources. Fire restrictions typically remain in effect until the forests receive significant precipitation, at which time they will be rescinded, and the public notified.

Additional restrictions may be applied as conditions warrant. More information about the different stages of fire restrictions can be found on line at: bit.ly/KNF-FireRestrictions

Know Before You Go! The public can obtain current state and federal fire restrictions information across Arizona at wildlandfire.az.gov/fire-restrictions, and at the Coconino County website at: www.coconino.az.gov/firerestrictions

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions begin Friday at 8 a.m. on national forests

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FLAGSTAFF/WILLIAMS/PRESCOTT — On Friday May 14, 2021 at 8 a.m. the entire Kaibab, Coconino and Prescott National Forest will enter Stage 1 campfire and smoking restrictions in an effort to protect public health by reducing the number of preventable human-caused wildfires.

Under Stage 1 restrictions, fires, campfires, charcoal, coal, and wood stoves are prohibited, except within a developed recreation site. Smoking is also prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or a developed recreation site.

Using a device that is solely fueled by pressurized liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off is allowed in areas that are barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within three feet of the device. Fireworks are always prohibited on all national forest lands.

Fire restrictions are implemented to help prevent unwanted, human-caused fires and to limit the exposure of visitors during periods of potentially dangerous fire conditions.

Implementation of fire restrictions normally occurs based on a combination of factors that are carefully measured. Criteria used to determine when to implement restrictions include things such as current and predicted weather, fuel moisture, fire activity levels, enduring drought, and available firefighting resources.

Additional restrictions may be applied as conditions warrant. More information about the different stages of fire restrictions can be found on line at: www.fs.usda.gov/detail/kaibab/fire/?cid=stelprd3802396

Fire restrictions typically remain in effect until the forests receive significant precipitation, at which time they will be rescinded, and the public notified.

Forest officials would also like to remind visitors that having a campfire on the national forest while under fire restrictions is a violation that can carry a mandatory appearance in federal court. Visitors should use extra caution when recreating on all public lands during fire season.

Know Before You Go! The public can obtain current state and federal fire restrictions information across Arizona on the Arizona Interagency Wildfire Prevention and Information website, and at the Coconino County website at: www.coconino.az.gov/firerestrictions

Horse Fire in Bradshaw Mountains near Crown King started Thursday.

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PRESCOTT — The Horse Fire, 7-miles NW of Crown King and 18 miles south of Prescott in the Prescott National Forest grew 3,500 acres over this evening. The fire started Thursday and the cause is under investigation.

Airtankers and helicopters were essential in slowing the spread of the fire as firefighters gained access. The fire is in a remote section of the forest with steep, rugged terrain. The strategy for the Horse fire is full suppression as crews continue to use aircraft to slow the rate of spread and scout for holding features to use as containment lines.

Goodwin, Senator Highway at Palace Station, and County Road 59 from Cleator have been closed.

Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office has issued a Code Red ‘Go’ for the communities of Crown King, Minnehaha, Horsethief Cabins and any private inholdings in and around the fire area. There are evacuations currently in effect. For information on the Code Red alerts issued you can visit the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page for updates or call (928) 771-3321 or to sign up for Code Red notifications visit Yavapai County Code Red Notification.