Valley residents driving Interstate 17 over the next few days should not be alarmed if they see smoke from a fire in southern Yavapai County, federal officials say.
The Bureau of Land Management will be conducting a prescribed burn on 2,000 acres of public land today through Monday about 10 miles northeast of Black Canyon City, within the Agua Fria National Monument.
Nearby residents and travelers may see some light smoke during the burn operation, according to the BLM.
The burn is to reduce hazardous buildup of plant fuels that would enable a wildfire to spread and improve wildlife habitat by increasing food for animals.
Meanwhile, fire restrictions are expanded across northern and northeastern Arizona as of this morning.
The restrictions will apply to all State Trust Lands within Apache, Coconino, and Navajo counties.
Such limitations are already in place for Gila, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Pinal, Yavapai, and Yuma counties.
They will remain in effect until July 31, or until further notice.
Prohibitions include building campfires or using charcoal grills, setting off fireworks, smoking near flammable materials and welding.
