FREDONIA — Fire crews on the North Kaibab Ranger District plan to manage a new natural-caused wildfire discovered on September 11th. The Murray 2 Fire is estimated at 300 acres and is seven miles south of the Jacob Lake Inn along Arizona Route 67.
The fire is burning within the 2006 Warm Fire area. The fire suppression for this incident is to confine and contain it to a predetermined area. Due to hazardous trees and limited access and to provide for firefighter safety, crews will implement varying types and intensities of operational actions to delay and direct fire spread. They will utilize existing roads, trails and natural barriers to help limit fire spread within Forest Roads 224, 220, 3140, and 205/AZ 67. This fire is burning with a creeping, low rate of spread and at low intensity through grasses and dead-and-downed Ponderosa pine and aspen.
The current and forecast weather conditions are favorable to low fire behavior and high vegetation fuel moisture which will allow crews to manage the Murray 2 Flat fire to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations and restore forest health. The overall strategy will be to contain the fire within a road system and various control features surrounding an area of about 3,200 acres.
Smoke may be visible along AZ 67 south of Jacob Lake and Arizona Route 89A in the House Rock Valley area east of the North Kaibab Ranger District. No smoke impacts are anticipated to reach developed areas in the surrounding communities. A one-mile section of the Arizona Trail has been temporarily re-routed along a section of AZ 67 and will re-open once it is determined safe for use.
The Kaibab National Forest is a fire-adapted ecosystem. It is dependent on fire to play a natural role in maintaining vibrant forest health. Lack of fire in the forest has caused an abundance of fuels to build up, which can make the forest vulnerable and susceptible to more dangerous uncontrollable fire incidents. Managing this wildfire in this the ecosystem is a very effective tool to reduce fuel loads and restore the landscape back to a healthier state that is more aligned with historical conditions.
During operations, fire personnel and vehicles will be visible to the public. Motorists and visitors are asked to avoid active hot areas and are reminded to use caution and drive with heightened awareness when passing through the fire vicinity.
Additional fire information for Kaibab National Forest can be obtained through the following sources:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF
Kaibab Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF
Kaibab website “Recent News”: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab