TUSAYAN — With no growth over several days and mop up activities nearing completion, fire managers on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are now entering the rehabilitation stage on the Scott fire. Crews are working to improve upon the landscape with intent to preserve the integrity of the environment and maintain a desirable healthy condition in the forest after the fire occurrence.
Kaibab National Forest photo.
A “BAER” team (Burned Area Emergency Response) has arrived and a risk assessment of the fire vicinity is currently underway. The purpose of the BAER program is to identify hazards caused by the fire and then implement emergency actions to reduce threats to life and property. Rehabilitation actions will inevitably stabilize and prevent unacceptable resource degradation resulting from the fire. This includes activities such as restoring fire lines installed by hand crews and dozers to a more natural condition which in turn will deter the public from using them as roads and trails. It will also minimize erosion and sediment delivery to water bodies and sensitive drainages.
“This work is critical to avert cascading negative effects and long duration damage to the affected land” said Kaibab National Forest Soil Scientist Kit MacDonald. “This process will not only help provide for public safety, but will also shorten the overall recovery time of the impacted areas.”
Road stabilization maintenance will begin on a short section of forest road 307 near the fire perimeter. Short-term closures may occur and visitors are urged to avoid travelling through the area until work is completed.
A nine mile section of the Arizona Trail will remain closed to the public, however an alternate detour route has been provided adjacent to the closed portion on forest road 310. Forest officials will re-open the trail once it is deemed safe for public access.