Thick smoke rising over West Valley is from prescribed burn at wetlands

PHOENIX – If you see thick smoke rising in the West Valley on Tuesday, don’t worry. It’s not an emergency.

The city of Phoenix and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management are conducting a prescribed burn at the Tres Rios Wetlands.

The operation is scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fire is being set to thin out vegetation and restore riparian habitat. It also provides Phoenix firefighters with wildfire training.

What is Tres Rios Wetlands, where smoke was seen on Tuesday?

Tres Rios Wetlands is a human-made habitat covering nearly 700 acres off 91st Avenue just north of the Salt River in southeast Phoenix.

It is a partnership among the five cities who own the nearby 91st Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant — Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Glendale and Phoenix — and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Tres Rios was built to alleviate flooding in the area and serve as a buffer for processed wastewater before it is recycled back into the environment.

It is also home to a wide variety of wildlife.

Portions of Tres Rios are open to the public for hiking, birdwatching and fishing, although a permit is required.

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