Verde Valley residents have likely seen and smelled wildfire smoke.
Fire mangers on the Verde Ranger District are conducting the Hance RX, which is a prescibed grassland burn, between Wednesday, July 15, and Thursday, July 30, when the conditions are most favorable for a successful outcome.
Fire managers ignited the blazes just before noon, planning to burn 3,248 acres today, July 15.
The objectives of the burn is to improve native vegetation condition and distribution by reducing shrub and juniper encroachment into the grasslands and reduce current stands of brush. Fire mangers plan to burn available grass and other herbaceous fuels within the selected burn areas which will allow a return to more natural mosaic brush/grass patterns and a restoration of tobosa grass; and minimize or eliminate juniper and woody shrub encroachment into grassland areas.