Prescribed burns planned for area northwest of Christopher Creek starting Monday, Jan. 9

Pile burning planned next week for 

Christopher Creek and Christopher Mountain areas

 

            Payson, Ariz. (January 6, 2011) – Payson Ranger District fire specialists will conduct prescribed fire treatments on vegetative debris piles on the west side of See Canyon Road (FR 284) northwest of Christopher Creek beginning Monday, Jan. 9.

 

Fire experts plan to eliminate vegetative debris piles on Christopher Mountain beginning Tuesday, Jan. 10.

           

Residents and visitors to the area can expect to see and smell moderate to heavy amounts of smoke each day of the operation.  Diurnal air flow in the evening hours will move residual smoke down Christopher Creek and Tonto Creek and may impact the communities of Christopher Creek, Hunter Creek, R-C Boy Scout Camp, and Bear Flats. 

 

Ignitions will end each day by 3:30 pm to mitigate smoke impacts. Smoke from the prescribed fire treatments may linger in these areas through next Friday.

 

During fire operations, signs will be posted along the roads that are likely to be affected by smoke. Motorists are urged to use caution while driving through these areas and to slow down for the safety of firefighters and the public.

 

Prescribed fire treatments are always dependent on optimal weather conditions before ignitions begin, such as temperature, fuel moisture content, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, and other variables.

           

            For information about prescribed fire and mechanical fuels reduction operations, please call the Payson Ranger District at 928-474-7900.  Residents can also stay updated on forest prescribed fires at www.fs.usda.gov/Tonto.  To report a wildland fire, the fire emergency number is 480-457-1555, or 866-746-6516.