Tag Archives: Kaibab National Forest

Spring prescribed fire operations to begin May 1 near Tusayan and Williams

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WILLIAMS — Fire managers on the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts of the Kaibab National Forest are planning to conduct prescribed fires throughout the spring as conditions allow, starting next week with the Reed Project located just east of Tusayan, Arizona.

Crews plan to begin ignitions Monday, May 1, burning up to 1,370 acres over the course of multiple days. Smoke may be visible from State Route 64, Tusayan, and the Grand Canyon and daytime winds should carry smoke northeast. Residual smoke will settle into drainages and low-lying areas around Tusayan overnight. The portion of the Arizona Trail that is nearby will remain open.

Other projects planned for this spring:

  • Marteen Project (4,200 acres): Located five miles northwest of Spring Valley, east of Red Hill. Smoke possible in the areas of Spring Valley Cabin and Forest Road 141.
  • Russell Project (509 acres) and Blue Stem Project (3,885 acres): Located on the eastern side of the Tusayan Ranger District, 15-20 miles northeast of State Route 64 and Red Butte near Russell Tank; Minimal smoke impacts are expected.

Exact ignition dates are unknown as burning is dependent upon daily agency administrator approval and conditions within the ranges outlined in each prescribed fire plan. However, we are committed to providing the public with ongoing updates and as much advance notice as possible. Sign up to receive Kaibab NF news releases in your email.

Our land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape. Prescribed fires help reduce hazardous fuels that have accumulated due to drought, climate change, insects and disease, and decades of fire suppression. Fire also recycles nutrients back to the soil, promotes the growth of trees, wildflowers, and other plants, and improves habitat for threatened and endangered species. These efforts align with the Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy which aims to increase prescribed fire and other treatments to improve forest resiliency for generations to come.

We recognize that smoke can impact residents, visitors, and our fire personnel. We will continue to coordinate closely with our partners and communities to minimize smoke impacts as much as possible. All prescribed fires on the Kaibab National Forest are subject to Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. The department’s Air Quality Division: Smoke Management webpage provides details about its air quality program.

Information can be found on the Kaibab NF website, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, or by calling the local ranger stations.

Kaibab NF firewood permits start April 14 and May 1

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WILLIAMS – The Kaibab National Forest will soon be offering personal-use fuelwood permits for the 2023 season. On the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts, the Forest Service will begin issuing permits Friday, April 14, 2023 and permit holders will be able to collect firewood Saturday, April 15 through April 14, 2024. On the North Kaibab Ranger District, permit sales and firewood collection will run from May 1 through December 31, 2023.

Paid Permits are $20 for 10 cords of wood (limit 20 cords per year) and can be purchased by check, credit card, money order, and cash with exact change. Cash and check purchases are generally faster than credit card. A valid ID is required to obtain a permit. A Free Permit is available for the Tusayan Ranger District and allows for gathering 10 cords of dead and/or down pinyon pine.

Details such as tree sizes and species will be outlined in the cutting regulations issued with each permit. Permit holders will also receive maps and load tags which must be physically attached to each ¼ cord of firewood and visible from the rear of the vehicle.

Customers can obtain permits at the following offices. Office hours are listed on the Kaibab NF website; However, hours are subject to change and customers should call first.

For Williams District and Tusayan District permits:
Williams Ranger District Office, 742 S. Clover Road, Williams; 928-635-5600
Tusayan Ranger District Office, 176 Lincoln Log Loop, Tusayan; 928-638-2443

For North Kaibab District permits:
North Kaibab Ranger District Office, 430 S. Main St., Fredonia; 928-643-7395

It’s important to remember that many forest roads are extremely muddy and unsuitable to travel at this time; and may remain that way for the next several weeks. Regardless of the time of year, forest visitors are expected to use good judgement when traveling in the woods. Plan ahead, contact the district office for conditions, and remember that causing resource damage – such as ruts from driving on saturated roads – is illegal.

A wealth of information can be found on the Kaibab National Forest website, including additional details that will be added about the forest’s 2023 Firewood Permit Program.

2.5-mile Stretch of Garland Prairie Road Closed Due to Flooding

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Public Works Department, in conjunction
with the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Forest Service, has closed the
2.5-mile stretch of Garland Prairie Road between Sycamore Creek to the east and
McDougal Flat to the west due to flooding along the roadway. Access to Garland Prairie
Road from White Horse Lake Road, which intersects from the south, also has been
closed, and signage is in place to direct motorists away from the flooded area.
This closure is necessary for public safety as flows of at least two feet in depth have
been reported on this section of Garland Prairie Road. The closure will remain in effect
until weather conditions allow Public Works to safely reopen the roadway.

Public meeting March 29 for Drake Cement proposed exploration

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WILLLIAMS – The Kaibab National Forest will host a community meeting for Drake Cement’s proposed pozzolan exploration project to answer clarifying questions about the proposal and the overall environmental analysis process. All interested parties are welcome.

Community Meeting for Drake Cement proposed pozzolan exploration
(Open House – no scheduled presentations – come and go at your convenience)
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Williams High School Viking Grill (440 S 7th St, Williams, AZ 86046)
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

The purpose of scoping is to help the Forest Service understand concerns people have about the effects a project may have on natural and cultural resources and nearby communities. To be most helpful, comments should clearly articulate your concerns. Be as specific as possible and support your statements with facts and references, and be solution-oriented. Do more than just provide an opinion or vote. Note that names, addresses, and comments become part of the public record for the project.

You can submit your comments by email, mail, fax, or hand deliver it to the Williams Ranger District Office during business hours. There will also be a collection box at the meeting for hard-copy comments. Any hard copy comments should be as legible as possible to ensure they are properly transposed into the public record.

Email: comments-southwestern-kaibab-williams@usda.gov (include “Drake Bill Williams Exploration Project” in the subject line)

Mail and hand delivery:
Kaibab National Forest – Williams Ranger District
Attention: Drake Bill Williams Exploration
742 S. Clover Road
Williams, AZ 86046

Fax: (928) 635-5680

Information about the project can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/DrakeProposedExploration.

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

Oak Hill Snow Play area closed this season to facilitate theft of Arizona resources.

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WILLIAMS – The Oak Hill area on the Kaibab National Forest will be closed for the 2022-2023 winter season to protect public safety during logging operations. The Parks West forest restoration project is expected to begin December 1, 2022. Forest restoration projects are conducted to return the forest to more natural, fire-adapted conditions by removing overcrowded trees from the forest to reduce the likelihood and severity of wildfires.

The Oak Hill Snow Play Area is located in the center of the closure area, and will be closed. Heavy equipment will be working in and around the snow play area. The snow play area will also have a large amount of woody debris and ground disturbance following the restoration work that will make conditions unsafe for snow play.

Plan ahead for winter snow play. Though the Oak Hill Snow Play Area will not be available for use, the general forest is open for snow play and there are other privately operated snow play facilities in the Williams and Flagstaff area. Many of the roads are not maintained in the winter and travelers may become stuck while trying to access areas. Please ensure that you plan for winter driving conditions, have a 4×4 vehicle with tire chains, and have appropriate clothing, food, and water for cold and wet conditions.

Please reference temporary area closure order: #03-07-01-22-12 for more information.
Oak Hill Closure Map: bit.ly/3OJ2nFq

Winter Pile Burns Begin on Kaibab National Forest at Various Locations for Remainder of 2022

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WILLIAMS — Prescribed fire pile burning will commence across the Williams and Tusayan districts of the Kaibab National Forest for the remainder of the fall 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 and December, up to 8,000 acres of piles near Tusayan, Williams, and Parks are planned for prescribed burning operations.

Operations will begin near the City of Williams on Friday, November 4th. About 300 acres of piles will be ignited on the south side of Bill Williams Mountain. 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 Coconino County Road 73 and the City of Williams, 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.

Christmas Tree Sales to Begin October 13

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Williams, AZ, October 6, 2022 – Christmas tree permits for the Kaibab National Forest will be available to purchase online through Recreation.gov beginning Thursday, October 13th and permit holders may begin cutting their trees on Tuesday, November 1st.

Permits will be available for purchase through the Kaibab NF on Recreation.gov for trees, which also lists details about designated cutting areas, maps, dates, and sizes of trees that may be cut. Information can also be found on the Kaibab NF Christmas tree webpage.

When purchasing an online permit, it is important to carefully read the overview and need-to-know information prior to purchasing. Visitors will also need to set up a login account to Recreation.gov to complete the transaction. Permits are limited to one recreation.gov online account and will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis until sold out. Up to 5 trees may be purchased on a single permit at $15 per tree. A small processing fee will be applied to the transaction.

Fourth-grade students can get a free Christmas tree pass through the Every Kid Outdoors program by entering their pass ID they acquire on that website then enter it on Kaibab NF Recreation.gov when going through the acquiring process.

The tree cutting areas are in general areas and the trees are not individually marked. It is up to the permit holder to select the tree that is harvested. It is helpful to use the species map to predetermine what type of tree you would like and in what area they are growing before you start your adventure. The trees that are for this sale grow in the wild and are not cultivated to be a fully filled-in tree like the ones that are bought from your local store or a private Christmas tree farm. However, it is the experience of finding and cutting a tree and having an adventure with the memories being priceless.

Permits are valid to cut trees between November 1st through December 31st, 2022.

Stay informed of all Kaibab National Forest information by our KNF website and follow us on our social media through KNF Flickr photos, KNF Twitter and KNF Facebook.

Road Work Occurring on Forest Roads 74 and 141 on the Williams Ranger District

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WILLIAMS – As more people are getting into the woods for the start of hunting season, the Kaibab National Forest would like to remind visitors to be on the lookout for heavy truck traffic and changed road conditions associated with construction activities on forest roads. One project to be aware of is occurring on Forest Road 74 north of Pittman Valley and portions of Forest Road 141 northwest of Sitgreaves Mountain on the Williams Ranger District.

This road project involves improving surfacing and side drainage to ensure long-term sustainability of the road and support forest restoration and fire risk reduction activities planned for the near future in the area. Work on these roads is ongoing and is expected to be completed by the end of September. While this project is underway, visitors may want to seek alternate access to avoid truck traffic and construction activities.

Free, downloadable maps of open forest roads to assist with route planning can be accessed from the Kaibab National Forest’s Motor Vehicle Use Maps & Motorized Travel Aids webpage.