Date: February 3, 2015
Contact: Caleb Kesler, 928-567-3322 x223
Montezuma Castle
National Monument News Release
For Immediate Release –February 3, 2015
Contact: Caleb Kesler, Chief Ranger, Montezuma Castle NM, 928-567-3322 x223
Prescribed Burning Planned at Montezuma Well
Camp Verde, AZ—The National Park Service plans to burn several piles of woody debris and Russian thistle at
Montezuma Well in late-February or early March. The piles will only be burned if environmental conditions are favorable and an adequate number of firefighters are available.
The piles consist of dead cottonwood and Russian thistle.This hazard fuels reduction project will reduce fuels that could feed a wildfire along the monument's boundary.Doing this will reduce the threat of fire to private homes and help protect the plants, wildlife, and important cultural resources in the monument.The project is a joint operation between the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service.
The piles will be ignited by firefighters and monitored until they are completely out.Park visitors and nearby residents may see smoke and open flames or smell smoke in the vicinity of Montezuma Well during the burn. The project is anticipated to be completed in one day. For information about the monument, visit our website, https://www.nps.gov/moca/index.htm, or follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MontezumaNPS). For more information on the National Park Service Wildland Fire Management Program, visit https://www.nps.gov/fire.
To learn how you can reduce wildfire risk on your own property, please visit http://www.firewise.org.
-NPS-
