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NEWS RELEASE
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture U.S. Forest Service Coconino National Forest www.twitter.com/CoconinoNF www.flickr.com/photos/coconinonationalforest For Immediate Release July 19, 2014
Media Contact:
Brienne Magee, 928-310-6035 UPDATE 2 (next update will be Sunday morning)
Fire managers expect lightning-caused fires to grow, smoke to increase Flagstaff, Ariz. –
With today’s continued drier conditions, crews are anticipating significant growth on the four lightning-caused fires that continue to fulfill their natural and necessary role in forest health and fuels
reduction. Fire managers are using burnout operations to ensure the fires are progressing through the landscape at appropriate levels of severity and within pre-determined boundaries.
Crews on the Willard Fire plan to conduct 400-500 acres of burnout operations today around Ritter Mountain to limit the fire’s rate of spread and severity as flames move toward areas with denser fuels and steeper terrain.
The public should smoke to increase.
Overnight, smoke will likely settle in the same fashion as it has the last few days, rising and dispersing as the morning warms.
Crews will continue to work closely with the Department of Environmental Quality, municipal fire departments, and neighboring forests to monitor smoke impacts.
Willard Fire Size: 300 acres; Expected to be 600-1000 acres by the end of the day Location: South of Flagstaff between I-17 and Oak Creek Canyon, near the Willard Springs Interchange.
Behavior: 1 to 2-foot flame lengths.
Smoke is very noticeable from I-17, Munds Park, Kachina Village, Hwy 89A, Oak Creek Vista, as well as portions of the Sedona area.
Expect smoke to settle around Sedona, upper Oak Creek Canyon and possibly I-17 overnight.
The immediate fire area is closed for public safety, but no other road or trail closures are in place at this time. Visitors in the area should be cautious of fire crews and equipment.
Bar M Fire Size: 170 acres
Location: 5 miles southwest of Mormon Lake near Forest Roads 240 and 91.
Behavior: 1 to 2-foot flame lengths moving slowly across the forest floor Smoke is noticeable from Lake Mary Road, and Mormon Lake Village
The immediate fire area is closed for public safety, but no other road or trail closures are in place at this time. Visitors in the area should be cautious of fire crews and equipment.
Pothole Fire Size: 225 acres Location: 22 miles north of Payson Behavior: Creeping, smoldering, minimal growth.
Smoke: Camp Verde should anticipate smoke to settle in the area during the evening and early morning hours for the next several days. Closures: The immediate fire area and Forest Road 142F are closed for public safety.
General Fire Size: 230 Location: 15 miles northeast of Payson, off Forest Roads 300 and 95, south of FR 719. Behavior: 1-2 foot flame lengths Smoke: Subdivisions in the Blue Ridge community should anticipate an increase in smoke; it is expected to settle in the area overnight. The immediate fire area is closed for public safety. The Fred Haught Trail and a portion of the Arizona Trail are temporarily rerouted.
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Attachment:
COC-NR-7-19-14-lightningfires-update2.doc
Description: COC-NR-7-19-14-lightningfires-update2.doc
