SOUTHWESTERN-NEWS-RELEASE: Kaibab National Forest Information

["Blasi, Bob E -FS" <bobblasi@xxxxxxxxx>]

 

 

 

U.S. Forest Service
Kaibab National Forest
800 S. 6^th St.
Williams, AZ 86046
Voice: (928) 635-8200
Email: mailroom_r3_kaibab@xxxxxxxxx
Web: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

 

News Release

Media Contact: Bob Blasi
(928) 635-8229
bobblasi@xxxxxxxxx

Scott Fire Update:

Tusayan, Ariz., July 16, 2016—For Immediate Release. With no growth over several days and mop up activities nearing completion, fire managers on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are now entering the rehabilitation stage on the Scott fire. Crews are working to improve upon the landscape with intent to preserve the integrity of the environment and maintain a desirable healthy condition in the forest after the fire occurrence.

 

Heavy equipment including an excavator and a loader are being utilized to move large amounts of material back onto the disturbed surfaces of land that were previously cleared to establish control lines for the fire.

A “BAER” team (Burned Area Emergency Response) has arrived and a risk assessment of the fire vicinity is currently underway. The purpose of the BAER program is to identify hazards caused by the fire and then implement emergency actions to reduce threats to life and property. Rehabilitation actions will inevitably stabilize and prevent unacceptable resource degradation resulting from the fire. This includes activities such as restoring fire lines installed by hand crews and dozers to a more natural condition which in turn will deter the public from using them as roads and trails. It will also minimize erosion and sediment delivery to water bodies and sensitive drainages.

 

“This work is critical to avert cascading negative effects and long duration damage to the affected land” said Kaibab National Forest Soil Scientist Kit MacDonald. “This process will not only help provide for public safety, but will also shorten the overall recovery time of the impacted areas.”

 

SCOTT FIRE OVERVIEW

Start Date: June 28, 2016.
Cause: Lightning.
Location: 11 miles east of Tusayan in the Upper Basin and Coconino rim near forest roads 310 and 307
Current Size: Approximately 2660 acres. 85% contained.
Incident Commander: Jason McClain ICT3 / Mike Uebel ICT3-T
Resources: Two-type 6 engines, one-tactical water tender, one-dozer, one-excavator, one-loader, and two-resource specialists. Total personnel assigned is 25.

 

Road stabilization maintenance will begin on a short section of forest road 307 near the fire perimeter. Short-term closures may occur and visitors are urged to avoid travelling through the area until work is completed.
A nine mile section of the Arizona Trail will remain closed to the public, however an alternate detour route has been provided adjacent to the closed portion on forest road 310. Forest officials will re-open the trail once it is deemed safe for public access.

Additional fire information for the Kaibab National Forest can be obtained through the following sources: InciWeb; http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4840/ Arizona Trail area closure information; http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/kaibab/alerts-notices/?aid=35045 Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311; Text Message – text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404.

An excavator re-distributing material on a dozer line

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Bob Blasi Fire Information Officer Forest Service Kaibab National Forest, South Zone Williams & Tusayan Ranger Districts p: 928-635-5653 c: 928-606-7491 f: 928-635-5690 bobblasi@xxxxxxxxx 742 South Clover Williams, AZ 86046 www.fs.fed.us Caring for the land and serving people

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Attachment: 1650_Scott_Wildfire_2016_07-16-16.pdf
Description: 1650_Scott_Wildfire_2016_07-16-16.pdf