The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management will begin ignitions for a controlled burn about 50 miles south of Tucson.

If weather conditions allow, prescribed burns will start Tuesday 9 miles southeast of Sonoita in Santa Cruz County.

The department says the project will be visible from Sonoita, Elgin, Huachuca City and Sierra Vista, with smoke settling in lower altitudes at night.

The agency added winter and spring moisture provided favorable conditions for strategic burns, which are meant to remove overgrowth and other fuels near a cattle ranch in Elgin.

Burn managers expect to target about 2,000 acres, with a total of 3,200 being targeted over the next few years.

The burns are set to protect nearby communities and key infrastructure at risk of the 2023 wildfire season.

They will also help reduce cat claw and mesquite brush and provide better forage for cattle and wildlife.