TUSAYAN — Fire managers for the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest started treatment on the 475-acre Russell Prescribed Fire this morning. The Russell fire boundaries are located near Forest Road 311 and 311A to the west, and Forest Road 310RC to the east. A portion of the Arizona Trail is also within the prescribed fire area. That particular section of the trail will remain open, but visitors should exercise caution when traveling through the area.
A request to burn an additional 475-acres has also been submitted to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and could potentially take place tomorrow in an area adjacent to today’s prescribed burn.
During prescribed fires, community members and visitors may see fire personnel and vehicles in the vicinity. There are no smoke impacts anticipated for Highway 64, the Grand Canyon or the town of Tusayan. Smoke is expected to be carried out to the northeast due to prevailing winds from the southwest.
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 information, photos and maps are available through the following resources: InciWeb http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4113/; Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311; Text Message – text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404.
FREDONIA — The North Kaibab Ranger District has added a new cabin to the Kaibab National Forest’s cabin rental offerings, which will be available for public use starting today as part of Arizona’s “Rooms with a View” cabin rental program, a program that provides visitors with unique recreational opportunities to experience an overnight stay in a historic Forest Service cabin.
Individuals can also purchase a Christmas tree tag through the mail by sending information to the mailing address of the ranger district they plan to visit. It is advisable to call the desired ranger district office in advance to ensure tags are still available. Individuals desiring to purchase a Christmas tree tag through the mail should provide ample time for their permit to arrive. Expect a turnaround time of about 10 business days.