A one-day pile burn project will take place Tuesday at Lost Dutchman State Park, northeast of Apache Junction.
Ignitions are expected to last a few hours and smoke from the project will be visible to park guests, drivers on State Route 88 and some Apache Junction residents.
The project is part of an annual collaborative between the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management and state parks and trails to reduce the risk of wildfires.
According to the U.S. Agriculture Department, pile burning is a prescribed fire where firefighters burn debris left after fuel reduction projects, which typically involve the thinning or cutting of trees.
Piles are only ignited in ideal conditions: which includes favorable smoke dispersal and snow that helps contain the piles.
Lost Dutchman State Park will remain open.
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The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management is collaborating with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to carry out a month-long pile burn that is expected to span across 12,000 acres.
