9/25/23

Starting today, Fire Managers on the Prescott National Forest plan to take advantage of current weather conditions and begin fall prescribed burning in the Prescott Basin on the Bradshaw Ranger District south of Prescott. Ignitions are planned to continue through October, depending on weather conditions and resource availability.

Several burns are planned east of Highway 89, west of Senator Highway, north of Wolf Creek Road, and south of Goldwater Lake on national forest lands. Goldwater Lakes Trail #396 and Schoolhouse Gulch Trail #67 are in the Goldwater burn area that’s planned to start on Monday. Trail users should avoid these trails. 

The Goldwater prescribed burn, approximately 1,162 acres in size, is one of four upcoming burns. The others are Groom Creek at approximately 1,092 acres, Ponderosa Park at approximately 1,012 acres, and Indian Creek at approximately 1,121 acres. Smoke impacts should be light in surrounding communities. As nighttime temperatures cool, smoke can linger in drainages and valleys. In the interest of safety. 

Forest visitors are reminded to obey all traffic signs and use caution when traveling in the vicinity of prescribed burns as firefighters and fire-related traffic will be in the area.