PAYSON, Arizona — Tonto National Forest fire managers plan to use prescribed fire and mastication operations to reduce hazardous fuels on 640 acres west of the community of Strawberry between Nov. 5 and Nov. 9 as conditions allow.

Smoke may impact Strawberry, Pine and roads in the surrounding area and may linger for several days after ignitions are complete. Fire managers will end ignitions each day by 3 p.m. to minimize the impact of smoke. Signs will be posted on roads likely to be affected by smoke. Motorists are urged to use caution and slow down for the safety of firefighters and the public.

The purpose of this fuels reduction work is to reduce the threat of high severity, high intensity wildfire to the public, adjacent private property and natural resources in the Wildland Urban Interface area that surrounds the communities.

Prescribed fires are conducted within a “prescription” that is determined by appropriate fuel moisture, temperature, humidity, wind, and ventilation. Fire crews implement, monitor, and patrol each project to ensure it meets the goals and objectives outlined in the prescribed burn plans.

These prescribed fire treatments are one component in the Payson Ranger District’s long-range, landscape-scale, three-pronged fuels reduction strategy that began in 2001.

More information about Tonto National Forest prescribed burning can be found on InciWeb at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5925/   back...