Category Archives: Fredonia

Kane Fire at 100% containment

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FREDONIA — The Kane Fire will go to 100% containment today as crews continue suppression repair and rehabilitation work around the perimeter of the burned area. Management of the fire will transition from the local Type 3 organization to a smaller Type 4 managed by the Forest. Crews will continue to patrol and respond to any new starts as thunderstorms continue to move through the area.

Fire crews were able to quickly establish a perimeter on the Kane Fire with the assistance of the onset of the monsoonal weather pattern. Daytime cloud cover, higher humidity, and precipitation all moderated fire behavior, allowing crews to protect valuable cultural resources ahead of and in the vicinity of the fire. Although more rain is in the forecast through the weekend and into next week, smoke may still be visible from the Kane Fire area as pinyon pine and juniper stumps smolder.

This will be the last update on the Kane Fire.

Fall & Winter Pile Burns Begin on North Kaibab Ranger District at Various Locations

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FREDONIA – Prescribed fire pile burning will commence across the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest for the remainder of the fall and into the winter season.

Winter weather with forecasted snow present excellent opportunities nearly every year for fire crews to burn and consume piled slash and woody debris left over from previous forest restoration projects. For the months of November through February, 330 acres of piles near Dry Park Lookout Tower and Pleasant Valley cabin are planned for prescribed burning operations, with additional hand and machine piles planned near Jacob Lake and east of the North Rim Country Store near DeMotte Campground this winter.

Operations will begin with the ignition of about 300 acres of piles near Dry Park Lookout Tower on Wednesday, November 30th. These hand piles are relatively small in size and will consume quickly with little to no smoke impacts expected.

Smoke may be visible during the day as ignitions are occurring and may periodically impact Forest Road 22 but is predicted to be light in volume and short in duration. Smoke production is generally minimal after the first few hours with rapid dispersion as piles consume. Some smoke has potential to settle overnight into the lower elevations due to fluctuating atmospheric temperatures that produce nighttime inversions.

Forest visitors are asked to avoid active hot areas and are reminded to use caution and drive with heightened awareness when passing through any prescribed fire project vicinity.

All prescribed burning on the Kaibab National Forest is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
For additional information about the Smoke Management Division of the ADEQ and to view prescribed burn authorizations, please visit: legacy.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html

Murray 2 wildfire on North Kaibab Ranger District final update

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FREDONIA — This will be the final update for the Murray 2 Fire. The Murray 2 Fire has remained at 3,237 acres and 100% containment since Sunday, October 2nd.

The Murray 2 Fire was a natural-caused wildfire discovered on September 11th and a confine-and-contain fire suppression strategy was implemented. A team of 59 fire staff from the US Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the State of Arizona utilized existing roads, trails, and natural barriers while implementing varying types and intensities of operational actions to delay and direct fire spread.
The Murray 2 Fire burned within the 2006 Warm Fire area which consists predominantly of grasses, and dead-and-downed Ponderosa pine and aspen, with sections of live pine and large swaths of regenerating aspen. The fire consumed mostly dead forest floor materials which had the potential to fuel future wildfires. The fire left behind a fire mosaic pattern, a mixture of low intensity burning around islands of unburned forest which is highly beneficial to biodiversity and forest health. Crews took advantage of the confine-and-contain strategy to remove snags and fire hazards along the Arizona Trail corridor and trail access on Forest Road 205 to improve visitor safety.

Smoke may continue to be visible along Arizona Route 67 and the Arizona Trail as larger forest floor fuels and stumps continue to smolder. Crews will continue to monitor the Murray 2 Fire area and address issues as they may arise.

The Kaibab National Forest is a fire-adapted ecosystem. It is dependent on fire to play a natural role in maintaining vibrant forest health. Lack of fire in the forest has caused an abundance of fuels to build up, which can make the forest vulnerable and susceptible to more dangerous uncontrollable fire incidents. Managing this wildfire in this the ecosystem is a very effective tool to reduce fuel loads and restore the landscape back to a healthier state that is more aligned with historical conditions.

Crews managing Murray 2 wildfire on North Kaibab Ranger District

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FREDONIA — Fire crews on the North Kaibab Ranger District plan to manage a new natural-caused wildfire discovered on September 11th. The Murray 2 Fire is estimated at 300 acres and is seven miles south of the Jacob Lake Inn along Arizona Route 67.

The fire is burning within the 2006 Warm Fire area. The fire suppression for this incident is to confine and contain it to a predetermined area. Due to hazardous trees and limited access and to provide for firefighter safety, crews will implement varying types and intensities of operational actions to delay and direct fire spread. They will utilize existing roads, trails and natural barriers to help limit fire spread within Forest Roads 224, 220, 3140, and 205/AZ 67. This fire is burning with a creeping, low rate of spread and at low intensity through grasses and dead-and-downed Ponderosa pine and aspen.

The current and forecast weather conditions are favorable to low fire behavior and high vegetation fuel moisture which will allow crews to manage the Murray 2 Flat fire to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations and restore forest health. The overall strategy will be to contain the fire within a road system and various control features surrounding an area of about 3,200 acres.

Smoke may be visible along AZ 67 south of Jacob Lake and Arizona Route 89A in the House Rock Valley area east of the North Kaibab Ranger District. No smoke impacts are anticipated to reach developed areas in the surrounding communities. A one-mile section of the Arizona Trail has been temporarily re-routed along a section of AZ 67 and will re-open once it is determined safe for use.

The Kaibab National Forest is a fire-adapted ecosystem. It is dependent on fire to play a natural role in maintaining vibrant forest health. Lack of fire in the forest has caused an abundance of fuels to build up, which can make the forest vulnerable and susceptible to more dangerous uncontrollable fire incidents. Managing this wildfire in this the ecosystem is a very effective tool to reduce fuel loads and restore the landscape back to a healthier state that is more aligned with historical conditions.

During operations, fire personnel and vehicles will be visible to the public. Motorists and visitors are asked to avoid active hot areas and are reminded to use caution and drive with heightened awareness when passing through the fire vicinity.

Additional fire information for Kaibab National Forest can be obtained through the following sources:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF
Kaibab Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF
Kaibab website “Recent News”: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

Plan for lane restrictions on US 89A near Fredonia starting August 1

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FREDONIA – The Arizona Department of Transportation is advising motorists to plan for daytime lane restrictions on US 89A between Bitter Springs and Fredonia starting on Monday, August 1, as work begins on a paving project. The work is expected to extend into early September.

Drivers should slow down, proceed through the work zone with caution and watch for construction personnel and equipment while the following restrictions are in place daily from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 6 a.m. to noon Fridays:

  • US 89A will be narrowed to one lane only with alternating north- and southbound travel, in two-mile segments, from milepost 579 – 594.
  • Drivers should be prepared to stop near the work zone.
  • Flaggers and a pilot car will direct motorists through the work zone.
  • A vehicle width limit of 14 feet will be in place.
  • The speed limit will be reduced to 45 mph.

Temporary road closures in Mangum Fire area

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Fredonia — Monsoon rains last night in the Mangum Fire area caused flash flooding, resulting in three forest roads being washed out. Power had also been out at Big Springs but has been restored. Roads affected and associated closures are in effect for:

  • Forest Road 22 washed out and impassable at Oak Canyon – closed approximately 9 miles south of US Route 89A.
  • Forest Road 422A is washed out and impassable at Jacob Canyon.
  • Forest Road 461 is impassable just up canyon from the 22 junction – closed at east gate on FR 461 and south gate on FR 462.

Impacts to the area are being assessed today. Additional damage may occur in the Mangum Fire area with forecasted rain tonight.

Areas heavily affected by fire, especially in and near steep terrain, are susceptible to flooding and washing out during intense rainfall. The loss of trees and other vegetation in burned areas leads to an increased chance of flooding and debris flows which can pose a significant risk to human life. Visitors should exercise extreme caution while traveling in the burn area.

Floods on fire-scarred areas can contain soil, vegetation and woody debris, and rock that rush down canyon sides, naturally funneling into stream channels, capturing additional material in their paths, and form thick, fan-shaped deposits at canyon mouths and open areas.

Those planning to visit open areas of the forest should check the weather forecast frequently, as conditions can change in a very short timeframe.  Be aware that short intense bursts of rain may be particularly dangerous. If you observe movement of soil, debris, or flooding, move to higher ground immediately. If you hear sounds such as trees cracking, or boulders knocking together, move to higher ground immediately. Be especially alert while driving. Embankments along roadsides are susceptible to landslides.

Current conditions can be obtained by contacting the North Kaibab Ranger District at 928-660-3913 or checking the Kaibab National Forest website, www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab.  Additional forest information is also available through Twitter www.twitter.com/KaibabNF, Facebook www.facebook.com/KaibabNF, and Flickr bit.ly/KaibabNFPhotos.

Kaibab National Forest seeks public comment on proposed vegetation management project on the North Kaibab Ranger District

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FREDONIA — The Kaibab National Forest is seeking public comment on a proposed vegetation management project on the North Kaibab Ranger District that would improve forest health and vigor while also enhancing habitat conditions in the area.

The Burnt Corral Vegetation Management Project Environmental Assessment and all other project documents and maps are available for review on the Kaibab National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=44236. The project includes treatments designed to improve forest resiliency by creating conditions better able to withstand climate change and other threats such as unnaturally severe wildfire.

The project proposes the use of prescribed fire as well as the management of naturally-caused wildfire on up to 28,090 acres of the North Kaibab Ranger District. This reintroduction of wildland fire across the landscape would be supported by up to 17,765 acres of commercial and non-commercial mechanical vegetation treatments.

These treatments would promote a healthy mosaic of forest conditions and increase long-term sustainability by creating stands that include a diversity of tree ages and sizes. Larger openings between groups of trees and fewer areas of interlocking crowns would not only increase forage and grass production but would also make the entire project area more resistant to unnaturally severe wildfire.

This is the second official comment period for the project, which was originally scoped in March 2015. Due to the amount of time since the original comment period, the North Kaibab Ranger District decided to offer a second opportunity for the public to provide input. There have been few changes to the original proposed action, as most related to minor acreage adjustments based on actual field surveys and stand data.

“Even though there have not been significant changes, we wanted to ensure our communities and partners had ample opportunity to review the project and provide us with comments,” said Randall Walker, district ranger for the North Kaibab Ranger District.

The Kaibab National Forest encourages members of the public to provide feedback on the Burnt Corral Vegetation Management Project Environmental Assessment during the 30-day comment period. Specific, written comments should be postmarked or sent by April 24.

Comments must be in writing and may be delivered electronically, by mail or facsimile. Electronic comments, including attachments, may be emailed to comments-southwestern-kaibab-north-kaibab@usda.gov. Please include “Burnt Corral Vegetation Management Project” in the subject line. Comments may be submitted electronically in Word (.doc or .docx), rich text format (.rtf), text (.txt), Adobe portable document formats (PDF), or HyperText Markup Language (.html). Submit comments via mail to: U.S. Forest Service, North Kaibab Ranger District, Attn: David Vincelette / NEPA Planner, 430 South Main Street, P.O. Box 248, Fredonia, AZ 86022. Comments may be faxed to 928-643-8105.

Officials to lift Ikes Fire closure on the North Kaibab Ranger District

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FREDONIA — Effective Sunday October 27, the Kaibab National Forest will lift the area closure around the Ikes Fire, including the popular Rainbow Rim Trail, that has been in place since the lightning caused wildfire started in late July.

The public will be able to access Kaibab National Forest lands in and around the fire area, which had been closed to ensure public and firefighter safety during ongoing fire operations. Areas affected by the fire in Grand Canyon National Park will continue to remain closed to protect the public as well as natural and cultural resources. For information on closures within Grand Canyon National Park please visit www.nps.gov/grca/learn/management/firemanagement.htm

“We want to thank the public for their compliance while the closure has been in effect,” said North Kaibab District Ranger Randall Walker. “That area of the forest is extremely popular, and we appreciate their patience and cooperation while we completed operations restoring fire to the ecosystem, which will improve overall forest health and greatly reduce the risk of future catastrophic wildfire.”

Due to the lack of significant moisture over the fire area, isolated pockets of heat and smoke may still be found within the fire area. The public is advised to have heightened awareness about potential safety hazards and exercise increased caution regarding personal safety while in the area.

“We urge visitors to understand the potential hazards and to prepare accordingly,” said Peter Goetzinger North Zone Fire Management Officer for the Kaibab National Forest. “We want them to enjoy the forest but we also want them to do it safely, recognizing that any area recently impacted by wildfire will likely have some greater risk than other areas.”

Potential risks in any area recently burned by wildfire include the following:

· Burned out stump holes that could cause injury if stepped in;
· Unstable terrain with potential for rolling debris (boulders, logs, rocks, etc.);
· Fire weakened trees and snags that could fall or drop large limbs;
· Blowing dust and ash on roads and hillsides.

Officials to Lift Castle Fire Closure on the North Kaibab Ranger District

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Kaibab Forest Photo

FREDONIA — Effective today, the Kaibab National Forest will lift the area closure around the Castle Fire that has been in place since the lightning caused wildfire started in mid-July.

Members of the public can now access the area, which had been closed due to public safety during ongoing fire operations, including areas of active fire, and the presence of firefighting equipment and personnel. The public Is advised to have heightened awareness about potential safety hazards and exercise increased vigilance regarding personal safety.“The district was very successful at restoring fire into a fire dependent ecosystem, which will greatly reduce the risk of future catastrophic wildfire and improve overall forest health,” said North Kaibab District Ranger Randall Walker. “We now believe it is appropriate to lift the closure and allow the public to resume activities in the area such as hunting and fuelwood gathering, but that doesn’t mean hazards don’t exist. We urge the public to understand the potential hazards and to prepare accordingly. We want them to be able to use their public lands but we want them to do it safely, recognizing that any area recently impacted by wildfire will likely have some greater risk than other areas.”

Potential risks in any area recently burned by wildfire include the following:

  • Burned out stump holes that could cause injury if stepped in;
  • Unstable terrain with potential for rolling debris (boulders, logs, rocks, etc.);
  • Unsound burned trees (snags) that could fall or drop large limbs;
  • Storms resulting in flash flooding that could wash out roads, initiate debris flows, and entrap people at flooded stream courses;
  • Eroded and very rough roads that could result in unsafe driving conditions
  • Blowing dust and ash on roads and hillsides.

Visitors to the Castle Fire area are advised to follow these outdoor safety best practices:

  1. Know the weather forecast and check it frequently as conditions can change in a very short timeframe.
  2. Let someone outside the area know exactly where you are and where you will be going daily.
  3. Do not park vehicles or camp in areas with burned snags or where potential flood waters would prevent escape. Know where you are in relation to drainages.
    During windy conditions remain in open areas that are free of trees (both live and burned) as much as possible.
  4. If an area seems unsafe for any reason, leave.
  5. Have good maps and know where you are at all times.
  6. Keep a well charged cell phone with you and check it frequently so you know when you are in an area where there is no coverage.
  7. Understand that there are many areas on public lands that are remote. It can take a very long time before responders can arrive if a rescue is required. The Castle Fire area is very remote.

Visitors can check with the North Kaibab Ranger District office to get the latest Information regarding current conditions:

North Kaibab Ranger District: 928-643-7395, www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

Jacob Lake Visitor Center: 928-643-7298

For additional information please visit:

Castle Fire Inciweb Page: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6439/
Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF
Flickr: http://bit.ly/CastleFire2019

Crews Busy with Two New Fire Starts on the North Kaibab Ranger District

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FREDONIA — Two new wildfires started yesterday on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. Multiple interagency resources, including aircraft, responded to the incidents and took immediate suppression actions to stop the fires’ spread.

The Le Fevre Fire, located approximately 15 miles southeast of Fredonia off Highway 89A near the Le Fevre Overlook, was caused by a motor vehicle accident. Due to hot, dry and windy conditions the fire grew to approximately 20 acres in the pinyon, juniper and brush. Although the fire’s spread has been stopped, fire managers only list the containment at 80 percent due to the potential for spot fires with another day of gusty southwest winds predicted. Today, crews will continue to hold, secure and mop up the fire.

Highway 89A remains open to motorists but may be restricted to one lane to allow fire crews to utilize equipment and personnel to secure the fire. Visitors traveling in the area should use caution and be aware that fire crews and equipment may be working near the road.

The Cougar Fire was also discovered yesterday near Cougar Lake just south of the recent Castle Fire area approximately 6 miles northwest of Demotte Campground. The fire was contained at approximately one acre and was caused by lightning from a recent thunderstorm. Today fire personnel will continue to hold, secure and mop up the fire.

In addition to the two new fires, fire personnel are still closely monitoring the progress of the Ikes wildfire. This fire has been managed jointly between the Kaibab National Forest and the National Park Service since its discovery on July 25 near Swamp Point on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. It is currently 7,630 acres within its 7,785 acre planning area and is being utilized in order to fulfill its natural role of reducing dense forest fuels and improving overall ecosystem health. For more information regarding the Ikes Fire please visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/6475/