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Prescribed burns Oct. 23-25 near Tonto Village

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 Tonto National Forest fire specialists will begin burning 204 acres of vegetative debris piles Oct. 23-25 in the Tonto Village area northeast of Payson.

Prescribed fire treatments will occur north of Control Road 64, east of Pyeatt Draw Road and west of Tonto Village. Prescribed fires are dependent on conditions such as wind speed and direction, temperature, relative humidity, fuel moisture content, and other variables.

Residents and visitors to these areas can expect to see and smell moderate amounts of smoke during the three-day burning operation. During the day, smoke will impact Tonto Village, Tonto Creek Estates, and the Zany Grey Ranch area. Officials project smoke will impact Tonto Village, Thompson Draw I and II, Kohls Ranch, and Bear Flat communities during the evening. Residual smoke may linger thru Oct. 28.

Fire specialists will terminate ignitions by 3 p.m., each day to minimize the impact of smoke.  Signs will be posted on roads likely to be affected by smoke.  Motorists are urged to use caution and slow down for the safety of firefighters and the public.

These prescribed fire treatments are one component in the Payson Ranger District’s long-range, landscape-scale, three-pronged fuels reduction strategy that began in 2001. The goal is to reduce wildfire danger in Rim Country, to initiate the restoration of natural ecological systems, and to develop and foster sustainable forest conditions, wildlife habitat, and watersheds.