FREDONIA — The Kaibab National Forest will lift all area closures this Thursday, August 23, at 8 a.m. due to the significant and widespread monsoonal moisture that occurred over both the Cat Fire and Stina Fire over the last 72 hours.

“We encourage visitors to exercise caution, good judgment, and abide by the following recreational best practices,” said North Kaibab District Ranger Randall Walker.

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

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

Visitors to the North Kaibab Ranger District 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 of 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.
4. During windy conditions, remain in open areas that are free of trees (both live and burned) as much as possible.
5. If an area seems unsafe for any reason, leave.
6. Have good maps and know where you are at all times.
7. Keep a well-charged cell phone with you and check it frequently, so you know when you’re in an area where there is no coverage.
8. 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 North Kaibab area is very remote.

For fire information on the Kaibab National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab and Inciweb under the name of the fire at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov or visit us on Facebook and Twitter @KaibabNF or call (928) 635-8311 for recorded fire information.

FREDONIA — Local crews have been working diligently on the Stina and Cat Fires as well as responding to Initial Attack on numerous lightning ignitions across the district. In order to take pressure off local resources, Kaibab fire officials have transitioned command of the Stina Fire to the Central West Zone Type Three Incident Management Team as of 6:00 a.m. today. The Stina and the Cat Fires are both under command of the team which will finalize suppression activities, direct mop-up, and initiate suppression repair.

Moisture received on the Cat and Stina Fires has effectively calmed fire behavior. No growth has occurred on either fire for several days. Fire managers are confident under the current conditions, fire growth is unlikely.

Resources:
165 personnel including 3 Hot Shot Crews, 1 Type 2 Crew, 7 Engines, 2 Ambulances, and 1 dozer

Cat Overview:
Date reported: August 6, 2018 Size: 3,688 acres

Strategy: Full suppression Containment: 0%

Location: The Cat Fire is about 25 miles southeast of Jacob Lake in the Saddle Mountain Wilderness on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest.

Situational update: Containment figures are calculated based on a fire’s interaction with constructed or natural fireline. Since the Cat Fire never burned up to the constructed or natural fireline, no official containment was reached; however, there is little fire activity on the fire perimeter, and the fire remains confined within the initial planning area set by fire managers. The Cat Fire has been placed in Monitor Status.

Closures: Fire management resources have closed all roads within the planning area boundary, which includes FR 213 and 220 on the north, FR 610 on the south and east, and House Rock Valley Road 8910 on the east.

The following trails are closed: Arizona Trail from FR 213 to FR 610, North Canyon Trail, South Canyon Trail, Saddle Mountain Trail, and Pt. Imperial and Nankoweap Trails, which are both located on Kaibab National Forest and Grand Canyon National Park land. The closure will remain in effect until it is considered safe to enter the area. Roads 213, 219, 220 south of 213, 610 (Marbleview, South Canyon), 611 (East Rim), and 8910 south of 220 are also closed.

Stina Overview:

Start date: July 26, 2018 Size: 2,600 acres
Strategy: full containment Containment: 20%

Location: The Stina Fire is 23 miles southwest of Jacob Lake and about 2 miles east of Fire Point on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest.

Situational Update: Resources continue to work on all sides of the Stina Fire. On the north and east flanks, crews are concentrating on mop-up and fire suppression repair. Along forest roads 268 and 223 on the south flank, crews continue to close gaps to secure fireline. Where the fire is in contact with the fireline, crews are cold trailing, carefully inspecting and feeling for heat, along the fire’s edge and extinguishing any hot spots that remain adjacent to the line.

Closures: A closure is in effect for Forest Roads 223 (going to Fire Point), 268, 206, 271, 609, 250 road south of the 250/294 junction, a portion of the 239 and all Rainbow Rim trails and scenic viewpoints south of Locust Point. The trail between Locust Point and Parissawampitts Point will remain open for forest visitors. The closure order will remain in place until it is considered safe to enter the area.

For fire information on the Kaibab National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab and Inciweb under the name of the fire at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov or visit us on Facebook and Twitter @KaibabNF or call (928) 635-8311 for recorded fire information.