U.S. Forest Service
Coconino National Forest
www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino
www.twitter.com/CoconinoNF
www.flickr.com/photos/coconinonationalforest
August 26, 2011
Coconino NF Wildfire Update
Flagstaff, AZ – Several lightning-caused wildfires on the Coconino National Forest continue to be managed for natural resource objectives, which allow fires return to the ecosystem to improve forest health.
Fly Fire
This natural ignition is burning an area which hasn’t seen fire in a long time so this is a good opportunity to reintroduce fire into the fire-dependent ponderosa pine ecosystem. With favorable weather conditions, several days of managed ignitions are planned through next week. Smoke is visible from Alpine Ranchos, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Highway 89 north of Flagstaff.
Location: 1 mile north of Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, east of O’Leary Peak.
Behavior: Low intensity in ponderosa pine and brush.
Start date: August 19
Resources: 1 engine, 1 Hotshot crew plus additional firefighters, about 30 total. Managed by Flagstaff Ranger District.
Size: 120 acres, with potential growth to 1400 acres.
Sand Rock Fire
Moisture received this week resulted in minimal fire activity. If a drying trend occurs next week, fire managers will continue management ignitions of 200-300 acres. Minimal smoke.
Location: Near junction of Highways 260 and 87.
Roads Closed: Several forest roads have been re-opened. Forest roads are closed in the immediate fire area, including 9381, 6201, 6172 and 9362K.
Behavior: Low intensity in ponderosa pine, oak, juniper and some fir understory.
Start Date: July 21 and 28
Resources: Fire crews are monitoring. Managed by Mogollon Rim Ranger District.
Size: 3600 acres, with potential growth to 14,000 acres.
Rocky Fire
Minimal activity with little smoke.
Location: 2 miles southeast of Stoneman Lake near Rocky Gulch.
Fire Closure: The immediate Rocky Fire area southeast of Stoneman Lake remains temporarily closed for public safety. The closure area is bounded by Forest Roads 230 and 230E on the south and east, 229 and 9240K on the west, and Stoneman Lake Road/FR 213 on the north. These roads remain open, however all forest roads, trails and camping within the closure area are closed to public access.
Start Date: July 18
Resources: Fire crews are monitoring. Managed by Red Rock Ranger District.
Size: 5000 acres. Little additional growth anticipated.
Scout Fire
Location: 6 miles south of Clints Well, near Forest Road 141H and Forest Road 320.
Start Date: July 21
Size: contained at 810 acres.
Several additional recent lightning-ignited wildfires are being monitored:
Diablo Fire, 19 miles north of Clints Well, in pinyon-juniper near Long Lake. 20 acres.
International Fire, 11 miles southeast of Clints Well near McClintock Ridge. 60 acres.
Kehl Fire, 6 miles south of Clints Well near Kehl Ridge. Controlled at 185 acres.
Four more lightning-caused fires are confined, all less than 2 acres in size.
Fire managers recognize the need to minimize smoke impacts to the communities as much as possible and use several tactics to do so while managing these wildfires including slowing fire growth and intensity when ventilation conditions aren’t as favorable, and conducting firing operations earlier in the day to allow smoke to disperse before nightfall.
Fire information and fire area maps are posted at www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino. Follow the Coconino National Forest on twitter for fire updates at http://twitter.com/#!/CoconinoNF
or contact your local ranger station:
Mogollon Rim Ranger Station (Blue Ridge): 928-477-2255
Red Rock Ranger Station (Sedona): 928-203-7500 (open on weekends.)
Flagstaff Ranger Station: 928-526-0866.
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