Residents and visitors in the vicinity south of Payson along Highway 87 can expect to see and smell light to moderate amounts of smoke during a prescribed Tonto Verde National Forest fire operation through Friday, Feb. 2.

The fire treatments began Monday, Jan. 29, as part of the forest’s strategy to restore the health of the landscape and reduce catastrophic wildfire danger in Rim County.

The prescribed burns were scheduled for 758 acres south of Payson, north of Oxbow Estates, southwest of Granite Dells, south of Round Valley, and north of Jim Jones Shooting Range.

The prescribed fire treatments are designed to maintain fuel breaks that were created between 2004 and 2009 as a strategic line of defense for Payson if a fire were to ignite south and get carried toward the northeast by prevailing southwest winds.

The treatments will eliminate timber slash, dead and down woody debris, grass and brush.

Smoke will impact Payson, Star Valley, Round Valley, Oxbow Estates, Rye, Gisela and Highway 87 during the day and into the evening. Fire Operations will end by 4 p.m. daily to mitigate the impact of smoke, although residual smoke may linger in these areas through Sunday, Feb. 4.

Signs will be posted along roads that are likely to be affected by smoke. Motorists are urged to use caution while driving through these areas and slow down for the safety of firefighters and the public.