Tag Archives: Tusayan

New fire start added to Jar Complex on Tusayan Ranger District

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TUSAYAN — A new fire started by lightning was added to three other fires being managed to achieve resource objectives on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest.

The quarter-acre Old Fire is located west of Forest Road 2736 just north of Old Automobile Tank and is within the 16,100-acre planning area already established by fire managers for the Mason Fire. With the addition of the Old Fire, there are now four fires being managed within two planning areas as part of the Jar Complex, the goal of which is to improve forest health and reduce the potential for future high-intensity wildland fires on the Tusayan Ranger District.

The fastest growing of the four fires continues to be the Mason Fire, which is about 65 acres in size and is located just southwest of Camp 36 Tank about 4 miles south of Grandview Lookout Tower. If weather conditions allow, the Mason and Old fires will be able to grow within the predefined 16,100-acre management area over the next several weeks.

In a separate 3,600-acre planning area, the Lost and Shale fires continue to smolder but haven’t shown much growth due to rain showers over the last few days. They are each under an acre in size but could become more active if there is a drying trend in the area. The Lost Fire is located about 6 miles south of Tusayan and a quarter mile east of Highway 64. The Shale Fire is about a mile southeast of the Lost Fire just west of the junction of forest roads 2703 and 2703A.

The combined planning area acreage for the four fires in the Jar Complex is about 19,700 acres. The overall strategy for fire managers is to allow the fires to play their natural role as disturbance factors in the ecosystem within that predetermined area, which will provide a variety of ecological and other resource and community protection benefits.

The Mason Fire is most likely to produce smoke visible by members of the public over the next few days. Due to prevailing winds, smoke will largely be pushed toward the northeast, making it visible from Desert View in Grand Canyon National Park and from Cameron, Ariz. As the four fires pick up in activity over the coming days and weeks, smoke columns are likely to become more visible from other areas including the Town of Tusayan, Highway 64 and Highway 180.

“It is common for us to get a number of lightning-caused fires during monsoon season,” said Quentin Johnson, fire management officer for the Tusayan Ranger District and the incident commander for the Jar Complex. “If the fires get started in areas appropriate for managing them, we try to take those opportunities. In the long run, the forest will be healthier, our communities will be safer, and the fires that do get started will be much more like the historic fires that burned naturally across this landscape.”

Additional Jar Complex information, photos and maps are available through the following sources: InciWeb http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4344/; Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311; Text Message – text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404.

Jar Complex on Tusayan District continues growing, benefiting forest

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The Mason Fire picked up in activity yesterday, growing to about 50 acres and cleaning up the forest floor as it moved through pine needles and other forest fuels. Photo taken July 1, 2015, by Bob Blasi, U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest.

The Mason Fire picked up in activity yesterday, growing to about 50 acres and cleaning up the forest floor as it moved through pine needles and other forest fuels. Photo taken July 1, 2015, by Bob Blasi, U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest.

TUSAYAN — The Jar Complex fires continued growing yesterday on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest, providing ecological and other resource and community protection benefits.

The fastest growing of the three fires in the Jar Complex is the Mason Fire, which is about 50 acres in size and is located just southwest of Camp 36 Tank about 4 miles south of Grandview Lookout Tower. The Mason Fire area didn’t receive as much precipitation yesterday as some other areas on the district, which allowed it to continue its expansion and become well established in surrounding ponderosa pine forest.

Fire managers have defined a 16,100-acre planning area within which the Mason Fire will be able to grow while achieving resource-related objectives such as allowing fire to play its natural role in a fire-adapted ecosystem and improving overall forest health conditions.

The Mason Fire is expected to increase in size rapidly over the next several days if the area doesn’t receive significant rain. Smoke from the Mason Fire will largely be pushed toward the northeast due to prevailing winds, which means it will likely be very visible from Desert View in Grand Canyon National Park and from Cameron, Ariz. While direct smoke impacts to the Town of Tusayan are unlikely, a column will be visible from the community and from Highway 64 as the Mason Fire expands. The smoke column may also be visible to those traveling from Flagstaff on Highway 180 toward Valle.

The other two fires in the Jar Complex received more precipitation than the Mason Fire yesterday and grew only slightly due to the different conditions. The Lost and Shale fires are each under an acre in size but may pick up in activity if drier conditions prevail over the next few days.

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. Fire managers have defined a 3,600-acre planning area within which the two fires will be allowed to grow, bringing the entire Jar Complex planning area size to about 19,700 acres.

Much of that 19,700-acre planning 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. Fire managers are hopeful that the Jar Complex fires will continue the important forest restoration work accomplished through those prior treatments in the area.

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.

Kaibab National Forest seeks public input on Town of Tusayan Proposed Roadway Easements

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TUSAYAN — The Kaibab National Forest is seeking comments on a proposal to provide roadway and utility easements across National Forest System lands to the Town of Tusayan. The public scoping period will run for 40 days through June 2.

The easements, if approved, would allow the Town to make improvements to segments of existing forest roads and construct new segments to provide all weather access and utility service to two inholding properties within the Kaibab National Forest that are in the incorporated limits of the Town. The Ten-X Ranch and Kotzin Ranch properties are not owned or managed by the federal government but are surrounded by federal lands administered by the Kaibab National Forest. The only access to the Ten-X and Kotzin properties is through National Forest.

A scoping packet is available at www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=46776 that provides specifics of the project including a description of the proposed action. Additional information on the Town of Tusayan Proposed Roadway Easements project is available at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/TusayanEasement. The following public scoping meetings are scheduled to provide information about the proposed action:

  • May 18, 5 to 8 p.m., Williams Elementary-Middle School, 601 N. 7th St., Williams
  • May 19, 5 to 8 p.m., Grand Canyon Squire Inn, 100 Highway 64, Tusayan
  • May 20, 5 to 8 p.m., Doubletree Hotel, 1175 W. Route 66, Flagstaff

Comments on the proposed action may be provided in the following ways:

Online:
www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=46776  (Click “Comment on Project”)

Email:
comments-southwestern-kaibab@fs.fed.us

Subject Line: Tusayan Roadway Easements

U.S. Mail:       
ATTN: Deirdre McLaughlin
Kaibab National Forest
Williams Ranger District
742 S. Clover Rd.
Williams, AZ 86046

Fax: (928) 635-5680
Subject Line: Tusayan Roadway Easements

Kaibab National Forest seeks public input on Town of Tusayan Proposed Roadway Easements

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TUSAYAN — The Kaibab National Forest is seeking comments on a proposal to provide roadway and utility easements across National Forest System lands to the Town of Tusayan. The public scoping period will run for 40 days through June 2.

The easements, if approved, would allow the Town to make improvements to segments of existing forest roads and construct new segments to provide all weather access and utility service to two inholding properties within the Kaibab National Forest that are in the incorporated limits of the Town. The Ten-X Ranch and Kotzin Ranch properties are not owned or managed by the federal government but are surrounded by federal lands administered by the Kaibab National Forest. The only access to the Ten-X and Kotzin properties is through National Forest.

A scoping packet is available at www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=46776 that provides specifics of the project including a description of the proposed action. Additional information on the Town of Tusayan Proposed Roadway Easements project is available at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/TusayanEasement. The following public scoping meetings are scheduled to provide information about the proposed action:

  • May 18, 5 to 8 p.m., Williams Elementary-Middle School, 601 N. 7th St., Williams
  • May 19, 5 to 8 p.m., Grand Canyon Squire Inn, 100 Highway 64, Tusayan
  • May 20, 5 to 8 p.m., Doubletree Hotel, 1175 W. Route 66, Flagstaff

 

Comments on the proposed action may be provided in the following ways:

Online:
www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=46776  (Click “Comment on Project”)

Email:
comments-southwestern-kaibab@fs.fed.us
Subject Line: Tusayan Roadway Easements

U.S. Mail:       
ATTN: Deirdre McLaughlin
Kaibab National Forest
Williams Ranger District
742 S. Clover Rd.
Williams, AZ 86046

Fax:
(928) 635-5680
Subject Line: Tusayan Roadway Easements

Red Flag Warning in effect today for North Kaibab and Tusayan Districts

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TUSAYAN — The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for today from noon to 8 p.m. that covers the North Kaibab and Tusayan ranger districts of the Kaibab National Forest, as well as other areas of northern Arizona, due to strong winds and low relative humidity.

Visitors to the North Kaibab and Tusayan districts of the Kaibab National Forest are advised to refrain from having a campfire when Red Flag Warning conditions exist. This advisory covers all campfires across the districts, including in developed campgrounds.

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are expected and that a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will create an increased potential for large fire growth. The campfire advisory remains in effect until the Red Flag Warning ends.

The Kaibab National Forest is committed to educating visitors about their role in helping prevent unwanted, human-caused fires. Avoiding having campfires on windy days is one way they can do that.

Tusayan Ranger District fuelwood permits available in Cameron

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TUSAYAN — The Kaibab National Forest will issue free-use, paid personal-use and ceremonial fuelwood permits for the Tusayan Ranger District out of the Forest Service office in Cameron, which is located just south of the Cameron Chapter House, beginning this month. The fuelwood permits will be available out of the Cameron office from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. Daylight Savings Time on the following dates:

  • April 23
  • May 15
  • June 11
  • July 16
  • Aug. 13
  • Sept. 10
  • Oct. 8
  • Oct. 29
  • Nov. 12
  • Nov. 19
  • Dec. 10
  • Dec. 17

Permits are also available at the Tusayan Ranger District office, 176 Lincoln Log Loop in Tusayan, (928) 638-2443, during regular business hours Monday through Friday. Permits will be issued for dead and down (dead standing and downed trees) and green fuelwood cutting. Dead and down permits are sold for $5 per cord. Green permits are $10 per cord. There is a minimum purchase of $20 per permit. Cords will be sold in increments to meet the $20 minimum. Free-use permits will also be issued for the removal of downed wood within designated areas. A maximum of six cords (combined) of paid fuelwood may be purchased per household. An additional four cords of free-use fuelwood may also be issued.

The Kaibab National Forest has a policy for providing free forest products to Native Americans for traditional and cultural uses. A permit is required for the collection of fuelwood for ceremonial purposes. Detailed information about the policy is available on the Kaibab National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/kaibab/fuelwood or by contacting Mae Franklin at (928) 679-2037 or mfranklin@fs.fed.us. Ceremonial use permits are only available on the Kaibab National Forest during fuelwood season, so interested individuals should ensure they get them prior to the close of the season.

Visitors to the Kaibab National Forest are reminded to always be extremely careful with fire. Fuelwood cutters should be aware that chainsaws can throw sparks and ignite grasses and brush. Always carry a shovel and a fire extinguisher or water in case of a fire start. Additionally, all chainsaws must be equipped with a stainless steel spark arrestor screen. Cutters should check with forest offices periodically for information about the implementation of fire restrictions. For additional information on permits available out of the Forest Service office in Cameron, please contact Mae Franklin at (928) 679-2037 or mfranklin@fs.fed.us.

Kaibab National Forest seeks comments on adding camping corridors

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WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest is seeking public comments on an Environmental Assessment released today that analyzes the potential effects of adding camping corridors and making other changes to the transportation system of the Williams and Tusayan ranger districts.

The document and background information are available on the Kaibab National Forest website at http://go.usa.gov/kpQV. The 30-day comment period begins today and runs through May 11.

Specifically, the Kaibab National Forest is proposing to:

  • Designate approximately 291 miles of camping corridors along all or portions of several system roads on both districts. The corridors would extend 200 feet from either side of the centerline of the road, except where limited by topographical factors, resource concerns or private land.
  • Add 15 spur roads to the open road system on the Tusayan district. These spurs total 1.3 miles and would provide access to areas historically used for motorized camping.
  • Close approximately 9 miles of currently open roads across the two districts.
  • Add approximately 16 miles of roads to the open road system across the two districts. This includes 12 miles of formerly closed roads and 4 miles of user-created routes.
  • Develop an adaptive management strategy for making future changes to the transportation system for the two districts based on changing needs and/or new information.

Besides the proposed action, the Environmental Assessment also analyzes the potential effects of other alternatives such as varying corridor widths.

The proposed action and alternatives were all developed based on several years of monitoring following implementation of the Travel Management Rule on the two districts, which included documenting public concerns about recreational access and other issues.

Additional information and methods to submit comments are available at http://go.usa.gov/kpQV

Kaibab National Forest seeks public input on grassland restoration project

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forest-image004WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest is seeking comments on a proposed grassland restoration project on the forest’s Williams and Tusayan ranger districts that would restore the structure and function of grasslands and woodland areas by reducing tree densities, reestablishing natural fire regimes, and promoting grassland-associated wildlife species.

The detailed proposal and associated documents, including maps, are available on the Kaibab National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=44132. Interested individuals are encouraged to submit comments during the 30-day scoping period, which will run from March 24 to April 22.

Comments may be written, hand-delivered, oral, or electronically-delivered. Hand-delivered comments can be submitted to the Williams Ranger District office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, at 742 S. Clover Rd., Williams, AZ 86046, or to the Tusayan Ranger District office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, at 176 Lincoln Log Loop, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023.

Comments may also be submitted via electronic mail to comments-southwestern-kaibab-williams@fs.fed.us. Please include “South Zone Grassland Restoration Project” in the subject line of the email.

The Southwestern landscape, including the Williams and Tusayan districts of the Kaibab, has been greatly altered over the past century by the encroachment of woody plants, particularly juniper, pinyon, and ponderosa pine, into areas that were formerly grasslands and open pinyon-juniper woodlands.

Many factors have played a role in this transition, including historical livestock grazing, fire suppression, changes in wildlife populations, and climate change. These factors have eliminated the vegetation necessary to carry low intensity surface fires across the landscape, thereby altering the natural fire regimes and allowing uncharacteristic forest succession to take place. Encroachment can alter water and nutrient cycling, impact soil integrity, and negatively impact wildlife habitat.

Forest managers are seeking to reduce this encroachment and move toward desired conditions by thinning conifer trees, conducting prescribed burns and implementing associated actions on a broad scale across the two southern districts of the Kaibab National Forest.

“Grasslands serve an important ecological role and provide habitat for wildlife including birds and mammals,” said Roger Joos, wildlife biologist and project lead. “Functional grasslands are much less abundant than they were historically, which reduces the amount of available habitat for grassland-associated species. Understanding the value of these grasslands and the threats they are facing, we recognize the need to work toward restoring them to healthier conditions.”

Kaibab National Forest plans prescribed burn near Tusayan

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Kaibab National Forest fire managers plan to conduct a prescribed burn this week just northwest of Tusayan in order to remove accumulated pine needles and light, scattered slash that was generated during recent thinning projects.

Implementation of the 242-acre Flying J prescribed burn could begin as early as Wednesday and continue through Saturday, if weather conditions are appropriate. Fire managers are looking for northeast winds that will carry low-intensity fire through the area and push smoke to the southwest and away from Tusayan and the Grand Canyon National Park.

The purpose of the Flying J project, which is strategically located around the town of Tusayan, is to reduce hazardous fuels, provide community protection and restore forest health. Typically, fire managers focus on burning slash piles during the winter because of snowy conditions. However, recent dry weather is creating conditions appropriate for larger-scale, broadcast burning across the landscape.