PHOENIX — Good news for hunters and other outdoor recreationists — The Tonto National Forest lifted the Bush Post-Fire Flooding Public Safety Closure Order on Friday.
It’s official: Buckle up.
Every month, a coalition of Forest Service, elected officials and logging industry types gather for the Natural Resources Working Group, in a brave, uphill effort to rebuild a nearly dismantled industry. Their success may determine whether forested communities like Payson and Show Low go the…
4FRI does seem to be moving painfully slow, concluded the loggers, mill operators and other industry and environmental groups gathered for the Resource Group’s meeting. The original scheduled called for 4FRI to thin 50,000 acres a year. But in eight years the project has thinned a total of m…
Stark differences separate the District 6 legislative candidates when it comes to preventing the plague of wildfires from swallowing up forested communities.
SPRINGERVILLE — The Alpine Ranger District on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests published a “Final Update” of the the Cow Canyon Fire, Monday, Oct. 26.
The NovoPower biomass plant near Snowflake.
Arizona Corporation Commissioner Leah Marquez Peterson’s dogged effort to spur a reconsideration of a biomass mandate this month hit another setback.
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HOLBROOK — On Monday October 19th, the voting members of the White Mountain Fire Coordinating Group, met to discuss the current conditions of the forests throughout the region. At that meeting the members voted to recommend the enactment of fire restrictions throughout Apache and Navajo Coun…
SPRINGERVILLE — The U.S. Forest Service, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (ASNF) staff provided clarification to the Independent regarding Stage 1 Fire Restrictions implemented Friday, Oct 9.
special report
SPRINGERVILLE – Almost halfway through October and well into Firewood Month, the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests entered Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. The forest is experiencing typical increase in visitors during this time as the fall colors change, large hunts take place, and communities p…
It’s got the weather man freaked out.
Once more into the breech, dear friends.
SPRINGERVILLE — Last week, the Springerville office of the U.S. Forest Service, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests received several inquires about smoke. People driving on SR260 and US60 were able to see the smoke from the Jake Springs Fire from the highway.
SPRINGERVILLE – As of September 30, the Cow Canyon Fire is active on all edges and is burning through ground fuels with some isolated torching. Fire activity has increased over the last two days and led to some additional suppression efforts by firefighting crews but overall continues to rem…
WASHINGTON – Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs (AS-IA) Tara Katuk Sweeney recently announced that the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools operating on the Navajo Nation will open for students via distance learning for the first nine weeks of the 2020-21 school year. The BIE operates …
Apache and Navajo Counties have weathered the pandemic in surprisingly good shape so far — but buckle up, storm clouds continue to gather thanks to continued high unemployment, a lack of continued state and federal stimulus and the state’s underfunded, overwhelmed unemployment system.
Fires that have charred 5 million acres on the west coast and killed at least 27 people have highlighted the long, frustrating, stalled effort to avoid catastrophe in Rim County and the White Mountains.
“Exceptional” drought.
A firefighter ignites a back burn to help contain the Lofer Fire.
UPDATE: Crews have "pretty much established a line around the fire," according to BIA Wildland Management Public Information Officer Candy Lupe via phone at 3:20 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10.
The NovoPower biomass plant near Snowflake.
ARIZONA — There are more than 30 wildfires burning in Arizona and those are only the ones on public, state and forest land. This doesn’t include fires on the reservations tracked by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Forestry and Wildland Fire Management and other agencies.
The Forest Service has once again postponed the deadline for awarding contracts to thin almost a million acres of overgrown, fire-prone forest, to the near-despair of sawmill and power plant operators clinging to the end of their rope.
An air tanker makes a slurry drop over the Blue River 2 Fire on the San Carlos Apache Reservation.
Fire crews work the Cassadore Fire.
Fire crews stand by for a water drop on the Blue River 2 Fire.
The Cassadore Fire burns on the San Carlos Apache Reservation.
GLOBE — Over the weekend, the Gin Fire and the Griffin Fire burning five miles north of Globe merged. It is now called the Griffin Fire with total combined acreage burned at 33,403. The complex fire was reported at 30% containment on Monday by the Southwest Incident Management Team 5.
The Cassadore Fire burns in the forest on the San Carlos Apache Reservation.
ARIZONA — Still burning?
It's no secret that the White Mountains is experiencing one of the driest monsoon seasons in three years.
spotlight
APACHE-SITGREAVES NATIONAL FORESTS — The Willow Fire, ignited by lightning on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests’ Black Mesa Ranger District on July 28 when thunderstorms occupied the area, was reported on July 30. The fire is located within the 2007 Wilkins Fire footprint and is in a re…
Smoke from the Bush Fire this year, which generated even more smoke — but was not included in the study the story focused on.
The Woodbury Fire last year burned over 123,000-acre in the Superstitions. The Los Alamos Lab did the study on the smoke plume.
Smoke fills the sky from the Woodbury Fire
ARIZONA — Wildfire smoke’s bad.Very bad.
Northern Spotted Owl
ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO — A breakthrough agreement will allow free forest thinning projects to proceed without fear of a lawsuit on behalf of the endangered Mexican Spotted Owl.
After starting more than three weeks ago, the Bush Fire is now contained but the delay of the monsoon this year has left fire crews coping with extreme fire conditions. The 572-acre Polles Fire, 11 miles west of Payson continues to burn.
After starting more than three weeks ago, the Bush Fire is now contained but the delay of the monsoon this year has left fire crews coping with extreme fire conditions. The 572-acre Polles Fire, 11 miles west of Payson continues to burn.
ARIZONA — Arizona’s on fire, with no sign of a monsoon rescue yet massing on the horizon.
breaking
FT. APACHE — Executive Order No. 07202001
Dispersed smoke from the Bringham Fire.