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Kaibab National Forest Grand Canyon National Park
For Immediate Release Contact: USFS, Jacqueline Banks, 928-635-8314 July 31, 2014 Contact: NPS, Kirby-Lynn Shedlowski, 928-638-7958
Drier Conditions Help Spur Growth of Fires Managed for Resource Benefit
WILLIAMS, Ariz. – The fires being managed for resource benefit on the Kaibab National Forest and the North Rim of Grand Canyon
National Park increased in activity yesterday due to drier conditions. Fire managers are hopeful that the drier weather pattern will allow the fires to continue growing and achieving resource objectives such as improving forest health and reducing the likelihood
of future high-severity fires. “This is what we expect when we manage resource benefit fires during monsoon season,” said James Pettit, fire management officer
for the Williams Ranger District, on which the Sitgreaves Fire Complex is burning. “The fires become more active and spread when conditions are dry, and then slow and smolder when rain returns. This is how lightning-caused fires would have naturally burned
during this time of the year, and we adjust our management activities accordingly.” The goal is to allow the fires to burn as they would naturally as long as they can be safely managed while benefiting forest resources. Williams Ranger District: The Sitgreaves
Complex, which is located about 5 miles northwest of Parks, is 4,140 acres in size. As afternoon temperatures heat up the existing burn area, fire managers expect that smoke production will increase. Today, fire officials anticipate that managed ignitions
will resume along existing fire lines, which will also result in smoke being more visible. Sitgreaves Complex information is available on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/SitgreavesFireInformation.
Tusayan Ranger District: Fire officials
are managing a new fire start called the Hammer Fire. The Hammer Fire, which was discovered July 29, has grown to 24 acres and is located near Camp 36 Tank about 10 miles east to southeast of Tusayan. The Hammer Fire is being managed as part of the McRae Fire
Complex and is expected to grow rapidly as long as drier conditions prevail. The 3,900-acre McRae Fire, located a few miles southeast of Tusayan, is also expected to grow today as crews conduct managed ignitions along the south end of the fire on Forest Road
305AB. Smoke from the McRae Complex should move away from Tusayan but will be visible from State Highway 64. North Kaibab Ranger District: The
Quaking Fire, which is located about 40 miles southeast of Fredonia, Ariz., is 337 acres. Drier conditions over the last two days have allowed the fire to begin growing again. If conditions are appropriate, fire officials will start managed ignitions along
Forest Road 271 between the 271L and 271H roads. North Rim Grand Canyon: The Kanabownits
Fire remains at 303 acres in size and is located about a mile northeast of the historic Kanabownits Cabin on the Walla Valley Peninsula. Crews are monitoring the fire and doing preparation work for future operations. Smoke production has been minimal but is
likely to increase as conditions dry out. For fire information, visit
inciweb.nwcg.gov
or follow @KaibabNF
and @GrandCanyonNPS
on Twitter. Photos are available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/kaibabnationalforest.
For recorded fire information, call (928) 635-8311 (Kaibab National Forest) or (928) 638-7819 (Grand Canyon National Park.)
A firefighter uses a drip torch during managed ignitions along the perimeter of the McRae Fire on the Tusayan Ranger District. Fire officials use managed ignitions for a variety of reasons
including to help secure boundary lines of fires being managed to achieve resource objectives.
(Photo credit: USFS/Brandon Oberhardt) Jacqueline C. Banks Public Affairs Officer Kaibab National Forest Office: 928-635-8314 Cell: 928-606-7490 This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately. |
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1650-1_so_managed_fires_2014_0731.pdf
Description: 1650-1_so_managed_fires_2014_0731.pdf
