9/22/2009 10:43:00 PM Forest Service cancels this week's prescribed burns
The Daily Courier
UPDATE, 10:30 a.m. Thursday: The Camp Wood and Highway 169 Prescribed Burns, scheduled for Sept. 23-26, have been cancelled, said Debbie Maneely, public affairs officer for the Prescott National Forest.
INITIAL REPORT: Prescott National Forest officials announced Tuesday their plan to burn approximately 3,000 acres today through Saturday, weather conditions permitting.
The burn will take place 30 miles northwest of Prescott, near Camp Wood and Brushy Mountain. Forest Road 9821B will be closed. Forest officials are asking residents to use caution while driving in the area.
Prescribed burns help remove dead vegetation, invigorate the plant and animal communities, promote a healthy watershed and will help return fire to its natural role in the ecosystem. There are a variety of vegetation types within the forest, and each type requires specific treatments to reduce hazardous fuels.
These burns are part of an ongoing fuels reduction project to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire on the Prescott National Forest.
For current information on prescribed burns, visit www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott or call the Prescott National Forest fire information line at 777-5799.
In other forest news, the PNF will release its Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) for the Forest on Sept. 29 as part of the National 2005 Travel Management Rule for National Forests.
The public may pick up a copy of the MVUM and ask questions that day from 4-7 p.m. at the Chino Valley Ranger District, Verde Ranger District and the Bradshaw Ranger District. For the communities of Mayer, Spring Valley, Cordes Junction, Cherry and Black Canyon City, the Verde Ranger District will be at the Mayer Fire Department located at 11975 South Highway 69 on Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 4-7 p.m.
The MUVM displays National Forest System routes (roads and trails) or areas that are authorized and open to motorized travel. The MVUM also displays "allowed uses" by vehicle class. Any on-the-ground routes not shown on the MVUM and any areas not designated as open on the MVUM are closed to public motor vehicle travel. It will be the public's responsibility to consult the MVUM so that they know that they are staying on open (designated) routes for motor vehicle travel.
The MVUM is available free to the public at any Prescott National Forest Office and on the Forest website.
Reader Comments
Posted: Saturday, September 26, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
What liars!!! Prescribed burns do not help anything but their budget. The more they burn the more they earn & if they don't use it they lose it... That's why they are burning so much - to save their budget. Heath related complaints do are ignored but you can organize with other & write the governor. For good info, visit www.prescribedburns.com
Posted: Thursday, September 24, 2009
Article comment by:
STOPTHE SMOKE
Prescribed burns don't help anything but the Forest Service budget. There are many website popping up with the true facts. See prescribedburns.com and verdeairandwaterwatch.org
Posted: Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Article comment by:
quitburningstuff
Why are they burning 30 miles from town? The only reason they burn is to spend our tax dollars. If they wanted to protect us, they would concentrate on the area which borders Prescott! Stop polluting our air now!
Posted: Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Article comment by:
Speedy Gonzales
Once again the Forest Service will poison the air and take the easy way out instead of letting prisoner labor do the job for free as in many other Progressive states...figures.
