KINGMAN – There will be controlled burns in two parts of the Hualapai Mountains: one in Blue Tank and Bull canyons, and another near Pine Lake.
Blue Tank and Bull Canyons
Fire managers from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado River District are planning to conduct prescribed burning in the Hualapai Mountains, 20 to 25 miles southeast of Kingman, Ariz., through the end of the year pending appropriate weather and fuel conditions. Specific treatment locations include Blue Tank and Bull canyons. Burning operations may occur over multiple days and are expected to be complete within three to five days after ignition.
The purpose of burning is to treat approximately 3,000 acres of dense interior chaparral vegetation to reduce future wildfire risk and increase firefighter and public safety. Prescribed fires are intended to mimic natural fire frequency and intensity and will reduce fuel loads so that unplanned wildfires are less destructive.
Smoke may be visible from Kingman, Yucca, Wikieup, Interstate 40, and Highway 93, and will be heavy at times. The public may experience smokey conditions in the vicinity of the project area at times. Smoke emissions will be managed in accordance with Arizona Department of Environmental Quality regulations. Jeep trails accessing the burn areas may be temporarily closed for public safety and reopened when safe to do so.
Pine Lake
Fire managers from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado River District, in cooperation with Pine Lake Fire District, Mohave County Parks, and Risk and Emergency Management, plan to conduct prescribed burning near the community of Pine Lake; Hualapai Mountain Park; Potato Patch and Getz Peak communication sites; and BLM’s Wild Cow Springs Campground through the end of the year as weather and fuel conditions allow.
Burning may occur multiple times during this time to reduce surface fuel loadings around Potato Patch and Getz Peak communication sites and eliminate piles of vegetation accumulated during thinning treatments and fuel break maintenance in and around Pine Lake, Hualapai Mountain Park, and Wild Cow Springs Campground. The removal of overgrown vegetation helps reduce the threat and spread of wildfires and improves forest health.
To ensure the safety of residents and visitors, BLM fire management personnel will ignite accumulated vegetation when weather conditions are conducive to burning. Area residents and visitors may see some light smoke during burn operations. Smoke emissions will be managed in accordance with Arizona Department of Environmental Quality regulations. Access to the burn areas may be temporarily restricted to provide for public safety.
