WILLIAMS — The lightning caused Bert fire has grown to 1531 acres in size and continues to benefit the landscape while effectively meeting objectives. Yesterday crews successfully completed a burn out operation that was designed to protect resource values that included the Highway 180 corridor and the Arizona Public Service power line.

“As with all fires we manage in the forest, protecting life, public safety, and property is our first priority” said Danelle Harrison, district ranger on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. “Although we recognize the amount of smoke increased yesterday, the benefits of securing these values at risk was essential for us and will likely reduce the number of days smoke will linger in the long term.”

Winds are predicted to remain out of the northeast throughout today and then reverse direction. Smoke is expected to disperse to the southwest on Saturday and then move off to the northeast on Sunday.  Fire managers are preparing for the changes in weather patterns and will adjust operational plans accordingly. Minimizing smoke impacts remains a top priority.

To view recent spherical panoramas and photos of the Bert Fire and the area in which it is burning, visit http://bit.ly/BertFire2016.

WILLIAMS — The lightning caused Bert Fire continues to be active and is being allowed to burn naturally to improve forest health on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. At more than 213 acres in size, the fire is growing steadily while providing significant resource benefits, and fire managers anticipate that trend will continue given the drier weather pattern in place.

“The Bert Fire is doing exactly what we hoped it would,” said Quentin Johnson, incident commander for the Bert Fire. “It is backing through forest that needs to burn within the historic fire return interval. This frequency of fire on the landscape helps maintain a healthy environment, and we are seeing the kinds of effects we want. The fire is cleaning up accumulated fuels and improving the overall condition of the forest.”

Today, crews will continue with preparation work that will include securing Highway 180. A burn out operation will likely occur south of the highway over the next two days and will be visible from the corridor. A burn out operation is used to create a safe “blackline” which is effective in stopping the advance of an approaching fire and keeping it within a designated area. Motorists are asked to use additional caution when driving through the fire area and reduce speeds when appropriate.

As the Bert Fire continues its steady growth, smoke will be more obvious from surrounding areas. While smoke has largely been pushed toward the southeast away from developed areas, it is likely that increasing fire activity will lead to a more noticeable column over the coming days.