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From: Blasi, Bob E -FS
U.S. Forest Service
News Release
Media Contact: Bob Blasi
Two lightning caused wildfires to be managed on Tusayan Ranger District Tusayan, Ariz., July 05, 2016—For Immediate Release. Fire officials on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are managing two new fire starts called the “Scott” and “Airstrip” fires. The Scott fire was discovered
June 28, and has grown to approximately 5 acres in size. It is located in a remote area on the Coconino rim near forest road 310 eleven miles east of Tusayan. The Airstrip Fire was discovered on June 29, and is currently 6 acres in size. The Airstrip fire
is located just south of the town of Tusayan on the east side of highway 64. The Scott Fire is burning in a pinyon juniper and ponderosa pine fuel type on the northeast slope of the Coconino rim in the Upper Basin. A temporary detour has been put in place on a section of the Arizona Trail between the Grand View
lookout tower and forest road 311 north of Russell tank. Trail users are asked to follow directions posted along the trail and avoid areas where active fire is present. The Airstrip fire is burning in a predominant ponderosa pine stand adjacent to the Grand Canyon airport and will be visible from the community of Tusayan and from highway 64. Both fires will be allowed to move within a predetermined planning
area for the purpose of reducing hazardous fuel accumulations and restoring overall forest health.
“With the recent arrival of monsoon rains, conditions in the forest have become favorable for us to utilize both of these fires to significantly improve the landscape” said Josh Miller Assistant Fire Management Officer on the Tusayan Ranger
District. “We recognize the concern people have about the Airstrip fire being managed relatively close to the community. By allowing moderate ground fire to clean up this critical piece of forest south of the developed areas, fuels loads will decrease creating
a safeguard in front of the community. The end result will reduce a future threat of a potentially devastating wildfire running straight toward the town from the south.” Weather conditions are expected to vary on a daily basis which will influence changes in fire behavior and growth patterns as both these fires begin to progress.
Smoke may be visible from the Grand Canyon village, the communities of Tusayan, Cameron, Valle, and from Highways 64 and 180. Fire managers will monitor smoke impacts closely and will employ extra measures as necessary to minimize smoke
impacts to the surrounding residential areas. Additional fire information for the Kaibab National Forest can be obtained through the following sources: InciWeb
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4840/
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4839/ ; Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311; Text Message – text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404.
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Attachment:
1650_Scott _Airstrip Wildfires_2016_07-05-16.pdf
Description: 1650_Scott _Airstrip Wildfires_2016_07-05-16.pdf
