The East Eagle prescribed fire was scheduled to continue through the end of November; however, recent rain and snow have inhibited burn operations, and fire managers on the Clifton Ranger District have decided to postpone the project until favorable weather conditions return.
During the window of opportunity, firefighters were able to meet objectives and successfully treat 2,000 acres of the planned 13,416 acre prescribed burn. The primary goal of the project is to utilize fire to lessen accumulations of downed woody material in the areas of past wildfires such as the Wallow and Rattlesnake fires. Meeting these objectives helps to reduce the risk of destructive wildfires in the future. Fire managers will monitor weather forecasts to look for opportunities to resume prescribed fire operations.
The East Eagle project area is within the San Carlos Tribal Forest Protection Project which is one of the National Priority Landscapes. The project is located 30 miles north of Morenci with boundaries along Trail #18 (Salt House Creek) to the east, Forest Road 54 to the north, Forest Road 8369 to the west, and East Eagle Creek to the south. These landscape treatments are a cooperative effort with the San Carlos Apache Tribe and includes; the National Forest Foundation, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Mule Deer Foundation, and the Salt River Project.
Although the prescribed fire area has received precipitation, it may continue to produce smoke as fuels remain available. Air quality monitors have been placed in Alpine, AZ and Luna, NM. More information on air quality is available at https://www.airnow.gov/.
Landscape treatments on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests align with the Forest Service's 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to increase the use of fire on the landscape and other treatments to improve forest health.
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