Tonto National Forest will carry out a prescribed burn in the Pleasant Valley and Young area starting Tuesday.

The burn will target 15,000 acres and will last through the first week of December.

Forest managers hope that this and other burns they have done in the area will reduce fuel loads in the forest and reduce the chances of more severe wildfires.

Gary Roberts, of Tonto National Forest, said the burns are generally conducted in open areas away from the forest canopy, when conditions are favorable.

“We’re just hoping that our weather conditions will hold for us to give this the optimal conditions that we need to conduct a treatment any time, and especially of this size,” he said.

Smoke will be visible near OW Ranch, Forest Lakes, Canyon Creek Fish Hatchery and Pleasant Valley.