Forestry officials are launching two major fuels reduction initiatives across Arizona, including a significant multi-thousand-acre project on the Prescott National Forest aimed at lowering wildfire danger for nearby towns.
The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management announced that field operations will commence during the week of April 13, 2026. The targeted treatments focus on clearing hazardous vegetation, strengthening forest resilience, and protecting vital watersheds.
### Protecting Prescott-Area Communities
Near the Prescott area, state crews will undertake the Wineglass Project, which covers 3,434 acres of federal land. The primary goal of the operation is to reduce both the likelihood and intensity of severe wildfires near the neighboring settlements of Paulden, Chino Valley, and Perkinsville.
Technicians will use hand-thinning methods to eliminate compromised, dead, and vulnerable juniper trees, along with overgrown brush species across the treatment zone. In subsequent phases, managers intend to apply prescribed fire treatments as part of an ongoing management cycle.
Beyond lowering wildfire threats to regional neighborhoods, the vegetative thinning is planned to benefit local wildlife. Removing dense brush expands open sightlines and promotes the regeneration of native grasses and herbaceous vegetation, creating crucial foraging grounds for area pronghorn.
Federal forest officials do not anticipate any recreational closures during the work. The full project is estimated to take roughly one year to complete, though weather shifts or the implementation of seasonal fire restrictions could alter the operational schedule.
### Interagency Cooperation
The Wineglass initiative operates through the federal Good Neighbor Authority program. This cooperative framework enables the state forestry department to deploy personnel and resources onto federal lands within the Prescott National Forest, helping both agencies meet shared stewardship objectives across jurisdictional borders.
By uniting state assets with U.S. Forest Service priorities, the partnership focuses on safeguarding sensitive watersheds, improving ecological balance, and mitigating fire behavior near populated zones.
### Additional Work in Apache County
Simultaneously, the state will begin a secondary forest treatment in Apache County, situated north of Springerville. Known as the Molina Basin Project, this 683-acre operation occurs on State Trust Lands bordered by private parcels and the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.
State hand crews will cut down drought-stressed, dead, and dying juniper trees to restore the tract toward its historic balance of wooded terrain and open grassland. Thinning overgrown vegetation allows surviving trees greater access to natural moisture and sunlight.
Work on the Molina Basin tract is planned to conclude by late May 2026, depending on atmospheric conditions and local fire regulations. The state plans to salvage cleared timber from the site to supply community firewood banks, giving area non-profit groups and civic organizations access to free heating wood in the coming months.