Tag Archives: Fredonia

Tusayan Ranger District to manage the Jar Complex for resource benefit

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forestTUSAYAN — The Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest is managing the Jar Complex fires in order to improve forest health and meet other natural resource objectives.

The Jar Complex is made up of three separate fires, the largest being the 16-acre Mason Fire located just southwest of Camp 36 Tank about 4 miles south of Grandview Lookout Tower. The other two fires comprising the Jar Complex are the Lost and Shale fires, each about one-tenth of an acre in size. The Lost Fire is located about 6 miles south of Tusayan, a quarter mile east of Highway 64, and 5 miles north of Red Butte. The Shale Fire is about a mile southeast of the Lost Fire just west of the junction of forest roads 2703 and 2703A.

The planning area within which the Jar Complex fires will be managed is about 18,600 acres in size. Much of the area is ponderosa pine forest that has seen various forms of treatment over the last several years from other managed fires, prescribed burns and various kinds of mechanical treatments.

While the Tusayan Ranger District has received some light precipitation over the last few days, growth potential for the fires, especially the Mason Fire, remains high. Fire managers expect the Mason Fire to continue relatively rapid growth over the next few days, so smoke will be visible from Tusayan, Highway 64, Grand Canyon National Park and Highway 180. Smoke is expected to be pushed toward the northeast due to prevailing winds, so it could also be visible from Cameron and Tuba City.

Goals of managing the Jar Complex for resource benefit include reducing fuel accumulations, improving wildlife habitat, restoring fire to a fire-adapted ecosystem, and enhancing overall forest health.

“These fires are excellent candidates for managing to achieve resource objectives due to their locations and the fire effects we are seeing so far,” said Josh Miller, fuels assistant fire management officer for the Tusayan Ranger District. “Despite a little bit of rain, the Mason Fire remains active on all sides, and we expect it to grow tens to hundreds of acres over the next few days.”

The forest service is currently managing the Locust Fire treating 3227-acres. They are also managing the Smith Fire near Love’s and the Keyhole fire north of Keyhole Sink.

All fires are natural caused.

Locust Fire update: June 27, 2015 at 8 pm

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forestFREDONIA — When the Locust Fire was first discovered on June 15, fire managers met to discuss plans to manage the fire for the benefit of forest health and determined a planning area boundary that would be limited to 3,282 acres in size.

Today, the lightning-caused Locust Fire on the North Kaibab Ranger District near Fredonia, Ariz., reached 2,160 acres, resulting in improved overall forest health, wildlife habitat and community safety in an area that was deemed safe for firefighters to manage wildfire in a forest type identified by the Kaibab National Forest Land and Resources Management Plan as appropriate for management actions.

“We are extremely pleased with the progress of the Locust Fire and the resource objectives that were accomplished to date, including managing this fire in a safe and effective manner in which every firefighter returned home safely,” said North Zone Fire Management Officer Ed Hiatt. “By allowing fire to play its natural role in the forest, we are able to actively build resiliency, improve forest health and help reduce the risk of future high-severity fire in the area.”

Based on a 4-year average, the North Kaibab Ranger District has about 80 lightning-caused fires annually.

“When conditions are right, it is always nice to know that the community understands why we do what we do,” said North Kaibab District Ranger Randall Walker. “When we have the opportunity to make a significant and positive impact in the management of the Kaibab Plateau landscape, it is always good to know that we have positive community support, and today we are pleased with the results our firefighters have achieved over the last 12 days.

Management of the fire is expected to transition from the current Type 3 Team under command of Incident Commander James Pettit, Williams Ranger District Fire Management Officer, Kaibab National Forest, to a Type 4 Team under the command of Incident Commander Justin Perkins on Tuesday. Over the coming days, the local Type 4 Team will continue to monitor and patrol the area while the majority of resource support will start to demobilize and return to their home units.

Forest managers would like to remind the general public that the Rainbow Rim remains open for recreational use. However, the roads within the Locust Fire planning area boundary remain barricaded and motorists are asked not to enter this 3,282-acre area until further notice. The Locust Fire planning area is bounded by Forest Service Road (FSR) 214 on the north, FSR 206 on the east, FSR 293 on the south and FSR 250 on the west.

Locust Fire update: Continues to meet multiple objectives

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FREDONIA — Today the Locust Fire has increased to a little more than 200 acres. Weather continues to be a driving factor in helping fire managers determine the strategy for managing the fire for multiple objectives. Some of those objectives are: allowing natural fire to play its role as a disturbance factor in the ecosystem, enhancing wildlife habitat, improving forest health, and reducing potential for uncharacteristic high-severity wildfires in future years.

Today’s movement tracked east, northeast with prevailing wind gusts from south, southwest up to 25 miles per hour. Despite windy conditions, crews completed prepping the perimeter and are masticating smaller fuels into chips, which have a lower fuel classification. The mastication increases the efficiency of the prep-work and provides for firefighter safety.

Fuel classification is part of the National Fire Danger Rating System, in which fuels possessing common characteristics are grouped. Dead fuels are grouped according to 1-, 10-, 100-, and 1000-hour intervals; the time it would take for fire to completely consume that fuel source.

“The Locust Fire is meeting our objectives and behaving the way that we anticipated, thanks to the planning and prepping that was done, which is keeping us well ahead of the game,” said Brandon Allen, Locust Fire Incident Commander trainee. Fire behavior today continued to grow at a steady but persistent rate; roughly 132-feet-per hour.

Tomorrow, fire crews plan to continue chipping fuels around designated perimeter roads and implementing firing operations when necessary for managing the fire.

Tomorrow’s weather forecast calls for continued hot and dry conditions. Fire activity may likely increase as fuels continue to dry out.

Locust Fire grows slowly; continues to benefit forest resources

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FREDONIA — The Locust Fire continues to slowly grow near Rainbow Rim Trail on the North Kaibab Ranger District. The lightning-caused fire is located 39 miles south-southeast of Fredonia, Ariz., and northeast of Locust Point. The fire is approximately 37 acres in size and forest officials are managing the fire for resource objectives.

Over the coming weeks, fire crews will manage the fire within a 3,283-acre boundary. Roads, trails, and ridges will help crews maintain low to moderate fire spread within the management area.

The objectives fire managers are working to achieve include returning fire to a fire-adapted ecosystem, reducing accumulated fuels on the forest floor, recycling nutrients into the soil, enhancing wildlife habitat, and protecting the area from future high-intensity wildland fires. To help accomplish these objectives, fire crews are removing vegetation around designated perimeter roads. These and other predefined locations are known as Management Action Points (MAPs) where actions will be taken to slow, redirect, or prevent fire spread, to accomplish stated objectives.

Fire activity consists of low and slow surface fire with four to eight inch flame lengths. The Locust Fire is spreading in all directions but mainly to the east-southeast. For those planning a trip to this area of the forest, please be cautious as smoke may be present in and around the Rainbow Rim Trail during the day and overnight.

The weather forecast shows warm and dry conditions. Fire activity will likely increase as fuels continue to dry in the fire area and smoke may be visible from Arizona Highway 67 and Highway 89A. No road closures are in effect. Motorists are reminded to exercise caution when in the area.

Locust Fire being managed on Kaibab National Forest

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FREDONIA — Like the Jolly Fire, the Locust fire is a lightning caused fire in the Kaibab National Forest. The Locust Fire is located approximately 39 miles south-southeast of Fredonia, Arizona northeast of Locust Point near the Rainbow Rim Trail. The fire was discovered by fire personnel on June 15 at approximately noon during an aerial reconnaissance flight.

North Zone fire managers met yesterday to discuss strategies for managing a second fire in the North Kaibab Ranger District, and the possible impacts this managed fire could potentially have on forest visitors.

They plan to allow it to burn to rid the forest of Pine litter, down woody debris and grass fuels. The planning area is bound by Forest Service Road (FSR) 214 on the north, FSR 206 on the east, FSR 293 on the south and FSR 250 on the west. The Rainbow Rim will not be closed during this managed fire, and fire managers are aware of the anticipated increase in visitor use during this weekend’s scheduled bike festival.

Smoke may be visible from FSR 22, FSR 206 and Arizona Highway 67, Highway 89A and the scenic vista viewpoints on the Rainbow Rim. No closures are currently anticipated.

Kaibab National Forest manages Jolly fire for multiple objectives

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FREDONIA — Lightning activity on the North Kaibab Ranger District over the weekend resulted in several small fires, one of which is the Jolly Fire.

The Jolly Fire is located approximately 3 miles south of Jacob Lake. The planning area is bound by Arizona Highway 67 on the west, Forest Service Road (FSR) 200 on the east and FSR 634 on the north. The fire is currently less than 1 acre. Fire managers plan to keep the Jolly Fire within predetermined boundaries, and if the fire grows to the maximum boundary area it will reach about 1,514 acres in size. Smoke may be visible from Arizona Highway 67 and Highway 89A.

On Monday, fire managers met to discuss the likelihood of managing the fire to allow the fire to function in its natural ecological role within defined boundaries and reduce Ponderosa pine, aspen, and pine litter fuels within the planned management area.

Benefits of the burn include restoration of a fire-adapted ecosystem, reduction of accumulated fuels on the forest floor, recycling of nutrients into the soil, protection of the greater area from future high-intensity wildland fires.

Currently, the fire is a slow-moving ground fire, and fire managers are considering managing the fire for resource benefits as weather and conditions allow. No road or trail closures are in effect, but hazard signs are posted and motorist should exercise caution.

Fire Managers plan for pile burn near Jacob Lake Lookout Tower

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FREDONIA — Taking advantage of the recent moisture, North Zone fire managers will continue to reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health by conducting a pile burn as early as today on the North Kaibab Ranger District.

Forest visitors should be aware that the planned 8-acre treatment area will be located around the Jacob Lake Lookout Tower along Highway 67. Fire managers expect the piles to consume quickly with little to no smoke impacts expected to the surrounding area. However for the safety of forest visitors, “Smoke Ahead” signs will be posted, and ignitions are expected to be completed by 3 p.m.

As with all prescribed burning on the Kaibab National Forest, this burn is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and appropriate weather conditions.  For additional information on the Smoke Management Division of the ADEQ and to view prescribed burns authorized for any given day, visit http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html.

For additional information regarding the North Kaibab Ranger District pile burns, contact the North Zone Fuels Specialist, Dave Robinson, at (928) 643-8138.

Reforestation efforts continue on North Kaibab Ranger District

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FREDONIA — Together North Kaibab Ranger District personnel and a crew from MP Forestry Inc., from Medford, Oregon, were able to take advantage of this winter’s relatively light snow pack and reasonably mild weather to successfully replant another 485 acres of ponderosa pine seedlings in the Warm V project area that was severely damaged by the 2006 Warm Fire.

During a 3-week window in late spring, crews replanted approximately 100,000 seedlings, made possible in part by a $12,200 grant from the American Forests’ Global ReLeaf program, a program dedicated to restoring forest ecosystems.

“This is a multi-phase reforestation effort with many facets that must be accomplished,” said North Kaibab District Ranger Randall Walker. “Seeds must be harvested, grown, and the area salvage logged before any seedlings actually go in the ground.”

Salvage logging this project area and then replanting has been a high priority for the North Kaibab Ranger District. Logging the salvageable wood reduces the volume of potential fuel loads on the ground that could potentially pose a wildfire re-burn risk.

In addition to salvage logging, seeds must be harvested. Seeds for this reforestation effort were harvested from the Kaibab Plateau in 2009, grown at the Cal Forestry Nursery in northern California, and returned to the North Kaibab and stored in a large cooler where they were kept frozen until conditions favored their survivability.

“These replanting efforts are crucial to helping speed the recovery of this project area by reestablishing the native trees and creating a seed source for natural regeneration,” said North Kaibab Silviculturist Garry Domis.

Reforestation efforts will also help to stabilize sensitive soils, reduce erosion and provide improved habitat for wildlife, according to Domis.

To date, more than 5,000 acres have been reforested since this recovery project began, more than one million ponderosa pine and Douglas fir seedlings have been replanted, and this year’s reforestation project is the fifth replanting endeavor in the Warm Fire project area.

Over the last five years, this reforestation effort has been made possible through grants provided by the National Forest Foundation, American Forest Foundation, Salt River Project Trees for Change program, and the National Bank of Arizona’s Sustainable Initiatives program.

Kaibab urges campfire safety this Memorial Day weekend

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FREDONIA — Kaibab National Forest managers urge the public to use extreme caution with campfires and any recreational activity that could potentially cause a wildfire.

As spring moves into summer, visitation to Kaibab National Forest is expected to increase. The Memorial Day weekend has historically marked the beginning of that transition, with campers and other visitors looking to enjoy the unique recreational opportunities the forest has to offer.

Fire managers would like to remind visitors that even though no fire restrictions are in place, fuel moisture levels can rapidly change in a very short timeframe, so there is always a need to be responsible with campfires.

Fire crews are ready to respond to any fires and will be patrolling the forest to inform visitors about weather and potential fire conditions.

The following suggestions will help ensure a safe visit to the Kaibab National Forest:

  • If you don’t need a fire, don’t build one.
  • Have a shovel and plenty of water on hand to put it out.
  • Have more water than you think you will need.
  • Never leave a campfire unattended.
  • Use existing campfire rings to minimize impact to the surrounding soil.
  • Ensure the area surrounding a campfire has a bare dirt buffer surrounding it.
  • Be responsible with cigarettes and charcoal grills, and only dispose of resulting materials in an ashtray or ashcan.
  • Always supervise children around a campfire.

As weather conditions become warmer and drier, fire managers will continue to assess the need to implement fire restrictions. Forest visitors may call the Kaibab National Forest fire information phone line at (928) 635-8311 for current conditions and the status of fire restrictions. To find out if fire restrictions are in effect anywhere in Arizona, visit www.firerestrictions.us/az.

Big Springs Cabin Rentals now available for public use

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Kaibab Forest Service Photograph

Kaibab Forest Service Photograph

FREDONIA — The North Kaibab Ranger District has seven cabins available at Big Springs as part of the Kaibab National Forest’s cabin rental offerings, which are now available as part of the Arizona Cabin Rental “Rooms with a View” program.

Reservations must be made at Recreation.gov, and may be found by searching for “Big Springs Cabin Site, Kaibab National Forest, AZ.” A complete listing of available amenities is available here. The rental rate is $65 per night per cabin. The cabins can be reserved from May 1 to Nov. 30.

The Big Springs cabin site is located approximately 30 miles from Fredonia, Arizona, on Forest Service Road 22, about an hour drive from the north rim of the Grand Canyon. The cabins are about a 35-minute drive from the Rainbow Rim Trail, a winding 18-mile hiking and mountain biking trail on the forest that offers stunning views from five scenic overlooks along the north rim of the Grand Canyon.

Individual cabins vary in occupancy from two to four people per cabin and include use of the shared shower house, fully furnished kitchen and dining hall. There are toilets on site but not in the cabins. There are no laundry facilities. Each cabin has two twin-size beds and one full-size bed. Please bring your own linens, towels, and pillows.

See more photos of the Big Springs cabins at Kaibab Cabin Rentals.