Heavy smoke will continue throughout the day Thursday and into Friday as firing operations continue on the Still Fire, a lightning-caused wildfire located 4 miles northeast of the Highway 87 and Lake Mary Road junction.
Heavy smoke impact will be felt in the Blue Ridge communities, the Little Springs area and along Highway 87.
Moderate smoke impact will be felt in the Camp Verde, Pine, Strawberry and Payson areas.
Minimal smoke may be noticed in the Cottonwood and Phoenix areas.
Smoke will settle into low-lying areas overnight.
Driving conditions in the fire area may become hazardous, and possible intermittent closures may be implemented along area roads, including Highway 87, for public safety.
Forest visitors are asked to remain cognizant of firefighting operations.
Motorists are reminded to check the Arizona Department of Transportation website for information regarding state road closures, and recreationists are asked to refer to the fire area closure order and to abide by all posted signage and barriers.
The Still Fire is currently 4,889 acres, and fire managers intend to treat an additional roughly 2,800 acres with firing operations today.
Containment for the Still Fire is at 26 percent.
Today’s planned firing operations will occur near the Coconino NF’s Blue Ridge Ranger Station and near the C.C. Cragin (formerly Blue Ridge) Reservoir.
Current resources assigned to the Type 3 Still Fire include one fuels crew, one Hotshot crew, eight engines, one hand crew, one dozer and miscellaneous overhead.
There are no structures threatened by the Still Fire, which is burning through pine litter and was first reported Sept. 14.
The Still Fire is being managed to reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health as guided by Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy.
Today’s firing operations will contribute to the Still Fire’s objective of bolstering the health of the C.C. Cragin watershed. The management objectives of the Still Fire contribute to the overarching goal of the Cragin Watershed Protection Project, a long-term project that will reduce the risk of wildfire and post-fire flooding in the C.C. Cragin Reservoir watersheds.
Area residents and MRRD visitors can visit InciWeb for updates regarding the Still Fire.
Information about smoke and smoke impact is available at fire.airnow.gov.
