Aravaipa Canyon Prescribed Burn Road Closues

SAFFORD, Ariz. - The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Safford Field Office and Gila District Fire Management Office will conduct a one-day prescribed burn on the south rim of Aravaipa Canyon between May 1 and June 30, pending appropriate weather conditions. The Grover Burn will cover approximately 2,430 acres of BLM land near Klondyke, south of the Aravaipa Canyon and east of Turkey Creek. The BLM will announce specific dates in advance of the operation.

Visitors with valid permits for the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness Area east trailhead will be provided access.  Some area roads will be temporarily closed to other users to allow for fire operations.

Prescribed fires are intended to mimic natural fire frequency and intensity. It promotes the health of the ecosystem by enhancing growth of desirable grasses, reducing invasive shrub species and managing fuel loads so that natural fires are less destructive.

“Prescribed fire treatments are part of a BLM effort to restore, enhance, and, maintain the native desert grassland ecosystem found on the uplands of Aravaipa Canyon,” said Safford Field Office Manager Scott Cooke.

Aravaipa Canyon area roads listed below will be closed from 6 p.m. the day before the burn to 6 a.m. the day after the burn is completed.
 
Specific road closures:

• BLM road 5019 (known as Rug Road) will be closed at Turkey Creek. Public land users who have made the trip on the Rug Road from Mammoth may be allowed on the road on a case-by-case basis, pending status and progress of the burn. They will be escorted if allowed.
• The road from Bear Canyon near the BLM Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness east trailhead to the Turkey Creek trailhead will be closed. Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness permit holders will be allowed on a case-by-case basis pending status and progress of the burn and will be escorted.
• The Turkey Creek road will be closed.

Federal, State, and local cooperators will assist the BLM in conducting the burn. Fire crews will monitor the burned area during and after all prescribed burns.  Prescribed burn information will be available the day of the burn at the Klondyke Ranger Station.  For more information, contact Public Affairs Specialist Adam Milnor 520-258-7223.