News

Kendall Camp Prescribed Fire Project

Friday, October 23, 2009

PRESCOTT, AZ (October 23, 2009) Prescott National Forest fire management officials plan to implement the Kendall Camp prescribed burn on Tuesday, October 27th thru Thursday October 29th. The project area is located approximately six miles south of Prescott and one mile south of the community of Groom Creek, (Township 13 North, Range 2 West sections 26, 27, 34 and 35). The Kendall Camp prescribed burn is an on-going project that combines prescribed fire treatment and mechanical thinning to provide optimal conditions to help reduce smoke impacts to the city of Prescott and adjacent communities.

The project is approximately 750 acres and broken down into smaller burn blocks ranging from 64 acres to 270 acres. These smaller burn blocks will result in shorter daily burn durations that help to reduce smoke impacts.

Prescribed fire treatments are pre-planned fires ignited under a specific set of conditions (the prescription) with daily operations contingent on optimal weather and ventilation conditions requiring approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). These fires are designed to burn themselves out and are monitored by personnel throughout the entire project. Smoke may be visible for numerous days in the surrounding areas. Signs will be posted warning drivers and residents of fire activity and smoke impacts along roadways.

Prescribed burns help remove dead vegetation, invigorate the plant and animal environment, promote a healthy watershed and will help return fire to its natural role in the ecosystem. This project is part of an ongoing fuels reduction project to promote a healthy forest and also reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire on the Prescott National Forest.

As always, public and firefighter safety is our top priority. For current information and maps of prescribed burns visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott or call the Prescott National Forest fire information line at 928-777-5799.