U.S. Forest Service
Coconino National Forest
www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino
www.twitter.com/CoconinoNF
www.flickr.com/photos/coconinonationalforest
August 30, 2011
Coconino National Forest 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 moving to the northeast and slowing as it burns into the Black Fire of 2008. Fire crews conducted management ignitions along Forest Road 546 to match the fire’s spread. This wildfire is also serving as a research opportunity as fire specialists establish monitoring plots to study current fire effects and take tree core samples to determine past fire history. 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, some significant needle accumulation, and brush.
Start date: August 19
Resources: 1 engine, 1 8-person fuels crew plus additional firefighters, about 15 total. Managed by Flagstaff Ranger District.
Size: 515 acres, with potential growth to 1400 acres.
Sand Rock Fire
Tomorrow fire manages plan to ignite a 200-300 acre block to border one side of the fire. We’ll see more smoke tomorrow than the last several days when fire activity was minimal. The Pivot Rock area and Forest Roads 142, 149, and 616 are open.
Location: Near junction of Highways 260 and 87.
Roads Closed: Forest roads are closed in the immediate fire area, including 9381, 6201, 6172, 9362K, 9405 and 9361A.
Behavior: Low intensity in ponderosa pine, oak, juniper and some fir understory.
Start Date: July 21 and 28
Resources: 1 engine plus additional firefighters, about 10 total. Managed by Mogollon Rim Ranger District.
Size: 3600 acres, with potential growth to 14,000 acres.
Rocky Fire
Minimal activity interior of fire area 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.
International Fire
Smoke impacting Blue Ridge area.
Location: 11 miles southeast of Clints Well near McClintock Ridge.
Size: 100 acres.
Several additional recent lightning-ignited wildfires are being contained and monitored:
Deadwood Fire, 5 miles west of Munds Park. 20 acres.
Knoll Fire, 12 miles southeast of Clints Well. 44 acres
Diablo Fire, 19 miles north of Clints Well near Long Lake. 20 acres.
Kehl Fire, 6 miles south of Clints Well near Kehl Ridge. Controlled at 185 acres.
The Coconino County Public Health Services District provides information about smoke concerns and offers suggestions for minimizing smoke impacts to your family and home at the following website http://www.coconino.az.gov/health.aspx?id=6564.
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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