Fire Information

The Prescott National Forest is currently conducting its fall burn program.  The purpose of doing controlled burning is to clean up the forest floor of pine needles, limbs and other dead vegetation.  Controlled burns are an effective tool to create a buffer zone in case of a wildfire.  A wildfire will not burn as intensely in an area where a prescribed burn has taken place, giving firefighters a better chance to get containment of a wildfire.

Prescribed fires are done most frequently during the fall when weather permit.  The lower temperatures reduce the risk of burn going out of prescription.  The Forest did little burning last year due to the prevailing dry conditions.  Weather conditions are more favorable this year, and several burns have been planned.  Prescribed fires are currently being conducted in the Ponderosa Park area

The Prescott National Forest is committed to providing progressive and professional direction in the management of wildland fires. The forest averages approximately 95 fires annually, a little more than half of those are attributed to lightning. The Prescott is currently updating its Fire Management Plans forest wide and, upon completion of these plans, fire under the right conditions will be allowed to play its natural role in the ecosystem.

The Forest is preparing numerous Prescribed Fire plans, which will enable us to introduce fire in certain areas to reduce hazardous fuel build-up, increase and enhance forage production, improve soil and water values, or a combination of all these. Go to the news section of our web site to read news releases about current prescribed burn projects.

The Prescott National Forest is actively involved with the Prescott Area Wildland Urban Interface Commission, which is known nationally for its progressive actions in mitigating many of the problems that are caused by America's encroachment into forested areas.