Tag Archives: Kaibab National Forest

Tree Removal Begins in Timber Sale Area on Kaibab National Forest

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WILLIAMS – Tree removal has begun in a timber sale area on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest located just north of Parks, Ariz., and will continue through at least the end of November.

The Wright Hill timber sale area, which is about 2,300 acres in size, is bounded to the south by the El Paso Gas Pipeline, to the west by Forest Road (FR) 76, to the north by FR 785B, and to the east by Spring Valley Road.

Objectives of the timber sale include reducing tree densities in the wildland/urban interface, which is the area where forest and communities meet, in order to lower wildfire risk; improving wildlife habitat and diversity; reducing infection levels of dwarf mistletoe, which is a parasitic plant that can severely damage tree health and vigor; improving understory conditions; restoring historic grasslands and savannahs; and, enhancing overall forest health.

High Desert Investments is the contractor performing the tree removal and hauling work. Residents and visitors can expect to see heavy equipment and workers in the timber sale area and along haul routes. Specifically, material will be driven on FR 58 and FR 785B east to Spring Valley Road and then south to old Route 66 and Interstate 40. Safety signs have been posted in the area to inform members of the public about the operations. Up to 10 truckloads of material may be hauled daily between Monday and Friday. No operations are expected on weekends. Workers may also be traveling to and from West Triangle Pit occasionally to haul cinders.

Members of the public are urged to use extreme caution near timber removal and hauling operations. Besides the presence of heavy equipment and log trucks, there will also be trees being felled and stacked into log decks, which can be unstable. Visitors to the area should not cut firewood from the log decks nor climb on them at any time due to the possibility of collapse.

The Wright Hill timber sale is part of the larger Spring Valley Urban/Wildland Interface Fuels Reduction Project intended to improve forest health and reduce wildfire potential in the greater Parks area.

Tusayan treatment fires

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640-TusayanTUSAYAN – Fire managers anticipate starting multiple prescribed fire treatment projects on the Tusayan Ranger District as early as Thursday. Officials hope to treat approximately 3,000 acres with fire before wet weather conditions arrive for the winter.

Prescribed fire treatments require that fire managers continuously monitor weather and fuel conditions throughout the treatment process in order to ensure firefighter and visitor safety. The following prescribed treatments are scheduled for the upcoming week but will only be implemented only once conditions are favorable to do so:

Russell Prescribed Fire: The Russell project is comprised of three burn units totaling about 800 acres, and is located adjacent to the Russell Tank area on the east side of the district. This burn unit is mainly comprised of ponderosa pine with oak and juniper. Forest Service Road (FSR) 311 and a section of the Arizona Trail will be within the immediate area to be treated. The trail will remain open to the public but users are asked to avoid active sections of the trail where fire is present and use caution when traveling through the area.

Scott Prescribed Fire: The Scott project is comprised of three burn units totaling about 800 acres, and is located within the vicinity of FSR 310 and west of the Grand View Lookout Tower along FSR 2719. This burn unit is mainly comprised of ponderosa pine. A section of the Arizona Trail falls within one burn unit near the Grand Canyon National Park boundary and will remain open during operations; however, hikers are asked to use caution and follow the direction of fire personnel when moving through the area. Smoke may be visible from State Highway 64 along the east rim drive, but is not expected to significantly hinder the air quality.

Flying J Prescribed Fire: The Flying J project is located just west of the town of Tusayan and is approximately 450 acres. Fire Managers will evaluate conditions closely with this project due to its proximity to developed areas in the vicinity. Smoke mitigation will be a top priority and will influence decisions prior to ignitions taking place and throughout daily operations. Smoke will be visible from rural areas and along State Highway 64.

Ignitions Begin Today on Oquer Rx

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640-OquerFREDONIA – As weather conditions continue to present ideal conditions for prescribed burning on the North Kaibab Ranger District, North Zone fire managers are preparing to implement a prescribed fire treatment on the Oquer project today.

The Oquer project is 3,541 acres in size and is located within the central portion of the district. The unit is bound by Forest Service Road (FSR) 761 on the north/northwest side, FSR 418F on the southwest side, FSR 418B on the south/southeast side and FSR 1025 to 1025B to 761Y on the northeast side, and is predominately comprised of ponderosa pine and mixed conifer with scattered clumps of aspen.

Objectives specific to this season’s prescribed treatments include improving a defensible space in the Wildland/Urban Interface within the North Kaibab Ranger District developed areas, expediting the development of northern goshawk habitat, increasing landscape resilience to wildfire, insects and disease, returning fire to a fire-adapted ecosystem, improving forest health and sustainability and enhancing public safety.

During these prescribed treatments, visitors may see fire personnel and fire vehicles in the vicinity when any prescribed fire is being implemented. Visitors should drive slowly, turn on headlights, and avoid stopping in areas where fire personnel are working.

All prescribed burning on the Kaibab National Forest 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.

Shot me some chipmunks

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640px-140805-25BENHAM TRAIL – While hiking Benham Trail on Tuesday last, my alert hound treed a couple of chipmunk. While I could have used a .22 (which I didn’t have), I decided to use by Fuji instead. Fortunately it was only a stump of a tree, but it still took 20- to 30-minutes to get pictures of the varmints. They don’t hold still for pictures.

Can you see me now?

Can you see me now?


If you are planning a hike from Williams, you can catch a trail head at the picnic grounds at Buckskinner Park. You can also go seven-miles out south road and catch Benham Trail. Both trails are about 9-miles round trip so don’t forget water. Bring extra if you decide to bring your dog.
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If you decide to bring your dog make sure you keep them in sight and have a leash handy. Other people walk their dogs here. It is also the first time my dog tangled with Pepé Le Pew.

If you are lucky you may get a shot of a deer or elk. Again you will want to rein in your dog because elk sometimes turn and it could be disastrous.

There are also some beautiful wild flowers growing since spring finally hit Williams. It is also a great trail for a night time hike, but watch your footing. A good flashlight is a must.

For the latest information on hiking, fishing and boating activities around Williams, stop by the Williams and Kaibab Forest Visitor Information Center on Railroad avenue. You can also check out the Kaibab National Forest web site.

Lightning caused wildfires burning in the Kaibab

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Managed fires were started yesterday to combat Sitgreaves and Duck fires. View from I-40

Managed fires were started yesterday to combat Sitgreaves and Duck fires. View from I-40

PARKS/TUSAYAN/FREDONIA – The Williams area is experiencing the first fires of the season. The Sitgreaves and Duck fires are located in the area of Parks and the McRae fire is located in the Tusayan Ranger District. The fires are lightning caused. The Quaking fire, reported today, is burning near Fredonia in the North Kaibab Ranger District. The forest service has identified areas in which the fires may spread and are conducting preventative managed burns.

Sitgreaves fire visible from Williams.

Sitgreaves fire visible from Williams.

In the Williams Ranger District, the Sitgreaves Fire is 350 acres located five-miles northwest of Parks. Aerial ignitions are being used to prevent the spread of the fire into areas identified by the forest service. The Duck fire located three-miles northwest of Parks has grown to 324 acres and is being monitored by fire crews. Some beneficial fires may be started to reduce standing densities to reduce the threat of high intensity wildfire. Smoke from both fires are visible from I-40.

“With recent deep moisture, we feel confident in a quick transition from extreme fire danger and the associated full suppression fire management strategies to managing natural fire to benefit our resources” says District Fire Management Officer, James Pettit.

The Tusayan Ranger District is fighting the 1500-acre McRae fire is located about five-miles southeast of Tusayan and smoke may be visible from State Route 64. While varying monsoonal precipitation and winds are likely to change fire behavior and growth over the next several days, general fire behavior is anticipated to be low intensity with 6-12 inch flame lengths. Crews are planning 500-acres of managed ignitions as needed within the planning area.

About eighty fire fighters are engaged in these three fires.

The 27-acre Quaking fire is located approximately 40 miles southeast of Fredonia in the North Kaibab Ranger District. There is no information as to the cause. Today crews are planning managed ignitions as needed along FSRs 271 and 206. No smoke impacts are anticipated at this time.

Let the burning begin…

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WILLIAMS—The City Southeast Prescribed Fire three-miles southeast of Williams obviously received approval. A plum of smoke rose into the sky about 1 p.m. today and, as predicted, most of the smoke drifted toward Garland Prairie.

Crews plan to backline up to 500-acres over four days to establish and reinforce containment lines for a broadcast burn at a later date.

Smoke will be visible in Williams and along portions of I-40 and County Road 73. Managers expect smoke to drift toward Garland Prairie during the day and down Sycamore Canyon at night.

Crews will implement, monitor, and patrol the burn to ensure it meets the goals and objectives outlined in the prescribed fire plan. Prescribed burns are used to improve forest health, reduce hazardous fuels, and return fire to a fire-adapted ecosystem.

Draft Kaibab National Forest Land and Resources Management Plan public meeting in Williams

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WILLIAMS—The Kaibab National Forest service will hold a meeting on the Forest Land and Resources Management Plan public meeting in Williams. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 16th from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Ranger District office at 742 S. Clover Road.

This plan is extremely important in guiding the management of the Kaibab National Forest over the next 10 to 15 years.