SOUTHWESTERN-NEWS-RELEASE: Kaibab National Forest Information

["Krake, Holly M -FS" <hkrake@xxxxxxxxx>]

Please see attached news release regarding the Cooper and Castle Fires spreading naturally on the North Kaibab Ranger District near Fredonia, AZ on the Kaibab National Forest.

 

Thank you,

 

Holly Krake, MSEd

Fire Information Officer

USDA Forest Service

Kaibab National Forest- South Zone

742 S. Clover Road Williams, AZ 86046

p. 928-635-5653 f. 928-635-5680

             

 

FIRE NEWS RELEASE

Kaibab National Forest

 

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF

                                                                                                             

For Immediate Release                                                                Contact:  Holly Krake, 928-635-5653

July 30, 2013               

                                                           

                                   

Cooper and Castle Fires Spreading Naturally on North Kaibab

 

FREDONIA, AZ – In recent weeks, multiple small lightning fires have started across the North Kaibab Ranger District. Fire management officials have determined to allow two of these fires to spread naturally as an important part of the historical fire regime and fire adapted ecosystem. Currently, both fires are less than six acres in size burning in ponderosa pine with low intensity creeping and smoldering.

 

“We are still under monsoonal weather conditions, so fire activity will vary from day to day” said Assistant Fire Management Officer, David Robinson. “However, with the current forecasted drying trend, both fires will continue to grow”. To plan for fire growth, officials have developed specific planning areas in which the fires will be allowed to naturally spread. The Cooper Fire planning area is just under 970 acres while the Castle Fire planning area is approximately 1,530 acres. Both plans utilize existing FS roads and landscape features as perimeters to maximize firefighter safety and resource protection.

 

	Cooper Fire	Castle Fire
Date/Time Reported:	July 15th, 2013	July 24th, 2013
Location:	3 miles NW of Jacob Lake	Off FS road 454 near Big Spring Lookout Tower
Cause:	Lightning	Lightning
Size:	Less than 6 acres	Less than .10 acres
Landscape/Fuels:	Ponderosa Pine	Ponderosa Pine
Fire Behavior:	Low intensity	Low intensity
Total Plan Area:	968 acres	1537 acres

 

 

Smoke impacts should be minimal, if any, for the Fredonia area and surrounding communities although smoke from the Cooper Fire is highly visible from Highway 89A.

 

For additional information, please call Holly Krake (USFS), Fire Information Officer, 928-635-5653

 

-USFS-

 

 

 

 

Map of Castle Fire location off FS Road 454 near Big Springs Lookout Tower.

 

 

 

Map of Cooper Fire location 3 miles NW of Jacob Lake.

 

 

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Attachment: 1650-1_d3_Cooper_Castle_Fires_2013_0730.pdf
Description: 1650-1_d3_Cooper_Castle_Fires_2013_0730.pdf