Next week the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management begins a one-day pile burn operation on State Trust Land in Pinal County in an effort to reduce both fuel loading in the area and wildfire risk.

On Tuesday, Jan. 31, favorable weather conditions allow the department to conduct ignitions on the 36-acre, Lost Dutchman RX Burn approximately 4 miles northeast of Apache Junction, off State Route 88 and Nodak Road, just south of the Goldfield Ghost Town.

The department’s project is adjacent to a similar project by the Bureau of Land Management.

Last year, the two agencies collaborated to help reduce the hazardous fuel load within this area.

These piles are the result of the leftover debris from those fuels projects. The overall planned objectives include, preserving the Sonoran Desert’s natural state, providing a fuelbreak to help in the containment of a wildfire, and ultimately safeguarding nearby residents and businesses.

Ignitions begin on Tuesday at 9 a.m. with possible smoke impacts to SR88 and the Lost Dutchman Ghost Town.

All prescribed burning operations, whether pile or broadcast burns, are weather-dependent and may be canceled or rescheduled due to weather conditions or DFFM crew availability. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality must also approve projects before ignitions can begin.

DFFM will make notifications prior to ignitions on the agency’s social media channels, including Twitter, Facebook and the Nextdoor platform.