Feb 3, 2012 Prescribed fire operations planned for Houston Mesa area this week
300 acres slated for treatment Wednesday and Thursday
Payson, Ariz. (January 30, 2012) – Payson Ranger District fire specialists plan to conduct a 300 acre broadcast fire treatment east of the Houston Mesa Horse Trail extending to the Mesa del Caballo area on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 1-2. Residents and visitors to the area can expect to see and smell moderate amounts of smoke each day of the prescribed fire operation. Mesa del Caballo will be impacted by smoke during the day. Diurnal air flow will move residual smoke in the evening hours into the E. Tyler Pkwy. area, Chaparral Pines, Rim Golf Club, and the Payson area.
To mitigate the impact of smoke, ignitions will end each day by 3:30 p.m. Smoke may linger in these areas thru Friday. During fire operations, signs will be posted along roads that are likely to be affected by smoke. Motorists are urged to use caution while driving thru these areas and to slow down for the safety of firefighters and the public.
Broadcast fire treatments can continue for several days or weeks and generally are conducted during cooler weather after grasses have dried and cured. Windy conditions are needed to carry flames across open areas and achieve the beneficial effects desired by land managers.
Prescribed fire treatments are always dependent on optimal weather conditions before ignitions begin, such as fuel moisture content, temperature, wind speed and direction, relative humidity, 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.
River bank clean-up volunteers sought by Tonto National Forest
Lower Salt River, Mesa Ranger District, Sat., Feb. 18
Mesa, Ariz. (Jan. 30, 2012) – As one of the busiest recreation spots on the Tonto National Forest, the Lower Salt River Recreation Area hosts thousands of visitors year round. Unfortunately, many of these visitors leave their trash behind, and some of it accumulates in the river.
To help restore the river to its natural beauty, and clean up debris that is floating in the river, the Mesa Ranger District is hosting a River Bank Cleanup, Saturday, February 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“Now, while the river is at a low level, is a good opportunity to clean up the banks and to help enhance and preserve the beauty and outstanding recreational opportunities on the Salt River,” said District Ranger Rocky Gilbert. “We really need the public’s help to clean up these heavily-used recreation sites.”
Register online for the event at the Blue Point Recreation Site from 9 to 10 a.m. The clean-up begins immediately after registration and will continue until about noon when lunch and beverages will be provided free to volunteers.
Trash bags and parking for volunteers are free for the day’s events. Participants are urged to wear closed-toe, rubber-soled shoes that can be worn in rocky terrain, as well as sunscreen and gloves. A majority of the clean-up will occur in the river bed near the water.
“Having support from the public for this event goes a long way toward restoring the Lower Salt,” said Gilbert. “This is a great opportunity for those who truly love our forest to give back, helping us preserve this great recreation area for the future.”
For more information, visit the Mesa Ranger District Volunteer website at www.mrdvolunteers.org or send an e-mail to greenteam@mrdvolunteers.org.