Tag Archives: Prescribed Burn

Williams Ranger District announces plans to begin fall prescribed burning

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WILLIAMS — Fire managers on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest have completed plans for the 2016 fall and 2017 spring prescribed fire burning seasons and are planning to begin working as early as mid-August on several projects. The specific units to be ignited will be chosen based on fuel moistures and weather conditions that are within prescriptive levels that meet fuels reduction objectives.

The flowing project areas are planned for treatments:

Green Base Dry Lake Project: Ten burn units northeast of Williams, approximately 9,040 acres.
Green Base Parks West Project: Four burn units east of Williams, approximately 5,141 acres.
McCracken East Project: Two burn units south of Williams, approximately 839 acres.
McCracken West Prescribed Fire: Four burn units south of Williams, approximately 1,693 acres.
Kendrick Prescribed Fire: Six burn units northeast of Williams approximately 2,497 acres.
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Fire plays a beneficial role in maintaining the ecological stability of many landscapes including the Kaibab National Forest. Managers use prescribed fire as a practical means to reduce risks associated with uncharacteristic wildfires that can pose significant threats to public health and safety.

Officials recognize that impacts to air quality may be unpleasant at times, however they can significantly reduce the amount and limit the duration of smoke more effectively using prescribed methods than in an uncontrolled wildfire situation. Furthermore, fire managers will remain cognizant of wind direction and ventilation with the intent to minimize smoke impacts to businesses and residences.

During operations, fire personnel and vehicles working in these vicinities will be visible to the public. Motorists are reminded to slow down and drive with heightened caution when passing through active project areas.

Fire managers postpone prescribed fires on Kaibab Plateau

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FREDONIA — Effective immediately, North Zone fire managers have postponed this week’s plans to conduct both the Bridge Unit and Moquitch 4 prescribed fires due to predicted high winds on the Kaibab Plateau.

High wind activity could potentially cause implementation efforts to exceed acceptable parameters for the hazardous fuels reduction prescription. Therefore, fire managers will commence plans to test burn on both units once predicted weather, wind speed, and air quality conditions align favorably with prescription constraints.

Current future information on current Kaibab National Forest both upcoming prescribed burn notifications and wildfires will be provided through the following methods:

Fire Information Recorded Hotline: 928-635-8311

Prescribed Fire Planned for Tusayan Ranger District Friday and Saturday

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TUSAYAN — Due to above normal precipitation and cooler temperatures over the last month, conditions on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are within prescriptive levels and are suitable for fire managers to continue treatment of the 8,000-acre Russell Prescribed Fire project southeast of Tusayan.

Crews plan to begin ignitions near the area of Russell Tank and the Arizona Trail beginning Friday and expect to complete a 429-acre unit by the end of the following day. Smoke may be visible from Highways 64 and 180, and from the communities of Valle and Tusayan, but is not expected to impact residential areas.

Fire managers strive to minimize smoke impacts and will only conduct ignitions when conditions exist that will allow smoke to ventilate away from sensitive areas. Smoke is expected to disperse to the northeast during the day. Residual smoke may settle into drainages and low lying areas overnight but will dissipate rapidly throughout the morning hours. The Arizona Trail will remain open during operations, but hikers are advised to use caution and observe signs and directions posted along the trail.

Notifications of upcoming prescribed burns are provided regularly throughout the season. The public can find this information online or through the recorded hotline. Contact your local Kaibab National Forest office for additional information.

Prescribed Burn Planned on Kaibab Plateau

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FREDONIA — Pending favorable conditions, North Zone fire managers on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are planning to begin a prescribed fire within the 1,806-acre Jacob Ryan North “Bridge” Unit as early as Tuesday, May 24.

Once ignitions commence, fire managers expect the prescribed fire treatment to last three to four days.

As one of the most effective tools available to resource managers for restoring fire-adapted ecosystems, prescribed fires are used to reduce forest fuels, recycle nutrients and increase habitat diversity by removing dead forest fuels.

“In addition to providing community protection and promoting forest health, this prescribed fire operation will be conducted with firefighter and public safety as our number one priority,” said North Kaibab District Ranger Randall Walker. “The tradeoff is that we are on the cusp of tourist season and smoke is to be expected. Conducting a prescribed burn with no smoke is not really very realistic. However, to mitigate the impact, we burn when conditions are such that the smoke will disperse away from populated areas as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

Smoke sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems are encouraged to take precautionary measures as fire managers do anticipate smoke to minimally impact visitors in the vicinity of Jacob Lake, on Highways 67 and 89A, as well as hikers on a portion of the Arizona Trail (AZT) that passes through the unit for short periods of time during the prescribed fire operations.

To aid hikers on the impacted portion of the AZT, fire managers will post firefighters at the east and west ends of the unit where the trail and the prescribed burn area intersect in order to escort hikers through as necessary. No road or trail closures are expected. However, visitors are reminded to use caution when traveling along Highways 67 and 89A, and be aware of emergency vehicles in the area.

“The fuel samples we collected last week indicate that the conditions for this prescribed burn are within the optimal range to meet our objectives,” said North Zone Fuels Specialist Dave Robinson. “We’re right in the heart of perfect conditions for this prescription.”

The boundaries for this prescribed fire are Forest Service Road 247 on the north and west, FSR 487 to FSR 257 south to Highway 89A to FSR 247 on the south, and a series of dozer lines and connecting forest roads on the east.

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 on any given day, please visit http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html.

Information on current Kaibab National Forest wildfires and notifications of upcoming prescribed burns are provided through the following methods:

Fire Information Recorded Hotline: 928-635-8311

Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF (Text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404 to receive text messages)

Kaibab website “News & Events”: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

WildfiresNearMe: A new subscription, web-based application tool that provides the public with real-time text and email notification about wildfires that break out in their area. Users can follow any fire that has started within their area of interest. For more information, visit http://wildfiresnearme.wfmrda.com/.

Prescribed Fires Planned to Begin Sunday on Williams Ranger District

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Due to the significant amount of moisture received over the last month, conditions on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are appropriate for fire managers to continue treatment of the 3,339-acre Kendrick Prescribed Fire project northeast of Williams and the 2,532-acre McCracken Prescribed Fire project south of Williams.

Above normal precipitation and cooler temperatures have produced ideal conditions to continue with treatments such as reducing hazardous fuels in both these areas. Ignitions may take place on several days but will only occur when weather and fuel conditions are within prescriptive levels.

During prescribed fire operations, community members and visitors may see fire personnel and vehicles in the vicinity. Smoke may also be present and may result in short-duration impacts to populated areas.

Prescribed fires are essential tools for restoring the forests in a fire-adapted ecosystem, and smoke is an unavoidable byproduct of these efforts. Fire managers strive to minimize smoke impacts to the community as much as possible. Burns occur when winds and other atmospheric conditions will push the majority of smoke away from homes and ultimately limit the number of days smoke is in the air.

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 on any given day, please visit http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html.

Additional fire information for Kaibab National Forest can be obtained through the following sources: InciWeb http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4112/; Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311; Text Message – text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404.

Prescribed burn planned to begin Sunday east of Tusayan

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image004TUSAYAN — Crews plan to begin ignitions on a 264-acre burn on the Tusayan East Prescribed Fire Project on Sunday and intend to continue burning for approximately two days in the area if conditions remain favorable. The burn area is located just south of Grand Canyon National Park and east of the Town of Tusayan.

Smoke may be visible from Highway 64 and in the communities of Valle and Tusayan. Light smoke may linger overnight and in the early morning hours. To minimize smoke impacts, fire managers will only conduct ignitions when conditions exist that will allow smoke to ventilate away from sensitive areas.

Smoke is expected to disperse to the east and northeast during the day. Residual smoke may settle into drainages and low lying areas overnight but will dissipate rapidly throughout the morning hours.

Prescribed fires are essential tools for restoring the forests in a fire-adapted ecosystem, and smoke is an unavoidable byproduct of these efforts. Fire managers strive to minimize smoke impacts to the community as much as possible. Burns occur when winds and other atmospheric conditions will push the majority of smoke away from homes and ultimately limit the number of days smoke is in the air. Fire managers work closely with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, partners in the Grand Canyon National Park, as well as surrounding Native American tribes to monitor air quality.

Notifications of upcoming prescribed burns are provided regularly throughout the season. The public can find this information online or through a recorded hotline. Contact your local Kaibab National Forest office for additional information.

Williams Ranger District fire managers announce locations scheduled for prescribed burning over the next month

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WILLIAMS — Fire managers for the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are planning to ignite prescribed fires at various locations across the district through the end of April. Operations may start as soon as Saturday. The specific prescribed fire units to be ignited will be chosen based on weather and fuel conditions.

Areas that could be treated are as follows:

Kendrick Prescribed Fire: Ten burn units northeast of Williams, approximately 3,400 acres

McCracken East Prescribed Fire: Three burn units southeast of Williams, approximately 840 acres

McCracken West Prescribed Fire: Four burn units southeast of Williams, approximately 1,700 acres

“Fuel moistures and weather conditions in the springtime are at prescriptive levels to meet objectives for fuels reduction projects,” said James Pettit, fire management officer for the Williams Ranger District.

During prescribed fire operations, community members and visitors may see fire personnel and vehicles in the vicinity. Smoke may also be present and may result in short-duration impacts to populated areas.
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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 on any given day, please visit http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html.

Additional fire information for Kaibab National Forest can be obtained through the following sources: InciWeb http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4112/; Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311; Text Message – text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404.

Kaibab National Forest to conduct prescribed burn near Kendrick Mountain

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WILLIAMS — Fire managers with the Kaibab National Forest plan to conduct a series of prescribed burns starting tomorrow and continuing through Monday near Kendrick Mountain on the Williams Ranger District in order to reduce hazardous fuels and increase ecosystem health and forest resiliency.

About 2,700 acres are scheduled to be treated to the west of the Kendrick Mountain Wilderness boundary and approximately 11 miles north of Parks, Ariz., using a combination of hand and aerial ignition techniques. The area has been treated with fire in the recent past, so the scheduled prescribed fire is considered a maintenance burn, which should result in less smoke production than a first-entry burn due to lesser accumulations of forest fuels.

Winds are predicted to be from the south southwest, which should push smoke north and east across Kendrick Mountain. Smoke is expected to dissipate quickly but could still be present in the immediate area in the vicinity of Pumpkin Center. It may also be visible from Highway 180 and from Interstate 40 near Parks, Ariz.

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 on any given day, please visit http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html.

Kaibab National Forest fire information is also available through the following resources: InciWeb http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4112/; Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311; Text Message – text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404.
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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.

Kaibab National Forest to conduct prescribed burn near Kendrick Mountain

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WILLIAMS — Fire managers with the Kaibab National Forest plan to conduct a prescribed burn tomorrow near Kendrick Mountain on the Williams Ranger District if weather conditions are appropriate in order to reduce hazardous fuels and increase ecosystem health and forest resiliency.

About 339 acres are scheduled to be treated in the Beale project area, which is located directly north of Beale Mountain and Forest Road 786 and just to the southwest of the Kendrick Mountain Wilderness boundary. The maintenance burn is in an area that has been treated with fire in the recent past. It is also surrounded by hundreds of acres of forest that fire managers treated with prescribed burns in 2013 and 2014.

Winds are predicted to be from the south southwest, which should push smoke north and east across Kendrick Mountain. Smoke is expected to dissipate quickly but could still be visible from Interstate 40, Highway 180, and local communities including Parks.

The Kaibab National Forest remains at a fire danger level of moderate and is taking advantage of recent wet weather conditions to implement forest health treatments that often aren’t possible in June.

Notifications of prescribed burns are provided regularly and are available through a variety of sources including the following: