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Four lightning-caused fires to fulfill natural roles across Coconino NF FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., July 24, 2018, For Immediate Release –
Fire managers with the Coconino National Forest are making use of four lightning-caused fires to benefit the landscape and maintain a healthy ecosystem by allowing these fires
to fulfill their natural role and consume forest debris. Information and details about the Chimney, Bristow, Seep, and Deer fires, including their objectives, will be updated on Inciweb under
the name of the fire at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/. Quick updates will also be provided via the Forest’s social media sites, to include Twitter at
www.twitter.com/coconinonf (@CoconinoNF) and Facebook at
www.facebook.com/CoconinoNF (@CoconinoNF). These fires, as with any wildfire, do not have planned end dates, but firefighters determine a specific planning area within which the
fire may run its natural course. However, this does not mean the fire will move across the entire planning area, as specific edges of a fire may be suppressed to protect certain values such as public safety, private property, cultural sites, major transmission
power lines, trailheads, dispersed camping sites, and more. Additionally, monsoon weather and precipitation may extinguish any of these wildfires at any time, which would bring the fire to a conclusion. 1. CHIMNEY FIRE OVERVIEW (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6009/)
Discovery date: July
9, 2018. Cause: Lightning. Location: Approximately
3 miles northwest of Munds Park, along Forest Roads 253B and 253F. (Latitude/Longitude:
34.958306, -111.707194) Current size: 40 acres.
The fire is expected to grow to about 180 acres before it is fully suppressed. Current resources: Three
engines, with a total of 12 personnel. Predicted smoke impacts:
Impacts may affect drivers on Interstate 17, Munds Park, Lower Lake Mary, Pine Canyon, with overnight drainage into Sedona, Verde Valley and Oak Creek Canyon today and through tomorrow morning. Smoke should clear by mid-day tomorrow. Current closures: None. Recent and current operations:
Crews plan to complete burnout operations today, bringing this fire to a conclusion later this evening. 2. BRISTOW FIRE OVERVIEW (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6010/)
Discovery date: July
20, 2018. Cause: Lightning. Location: Approximately
6 miles southeast of Munds Park and east of I-17. (Lat/Long:
34.863611, -111.598500) Current size: 3 acres.
If weather and precipitation do not extinguish the fire, it is expected to grow to about 4,500 acres before it is fully suppressed. Current resources: Three
20-person crews, a 10-person module, three engines, a dozer and miscellaneous overhead, for a total of 88 personnel. Predicted smoke impacts:
Today light to moderate smoke will be visible along I-17 south of Munds Park. Natural fire growth and burnout operations will likely increase smoke on Wednesday. Smoke may impact Lake Mary Road, Munds Park and Mormon Lake communities. Possible overnight smoke
may impact the Verde Valley, Sedona, and the Village of Oak Creek. Current closures: None. Recent and current operations:
Crews will construct hand and dozer lines today to contain fire within the management area utilizing forest roads to protect natural resource values and improvements. Burnout operations are planned from Wednesday through the weekend. 3. SEEP FIRE OVERVIEW (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6011/)
Discovery date: July
17, 2018 Cause: Lightning. Location: Approximately
3 miles north of Kendrick Park, east of state Route 180 along Forest Roads 523 and 9001E. (Lat/Long:
35.463500, -111.752889) Current size: 6 acres.
If weather and precipitation do not extinguish the fire, it is expected to grow to about 5,000 acres before it is fully suppressed. Current resources: One
engine, with a total of about five firefighters. Predicted smoke impacts:
Moderate smoke is expected along state Route 180 over the next several days. Current closures: None. Recent and current operations:
One engine crew is assigned to the fire to protect natural resource values and monitor fire activity.
4. DEER FIRE OVERVIEW (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6012/)
Discovery date: July
13, 2018. Cause: Lightning. Location: Approximately
8 miles southwest of C.C. Cragin Reservoir and 3 miles northeast of Kehl Springs Campground. (Lat/Long:
34.471194, -111.290111) Current size: 34 acres.
This wildfire is expected to grow to about 1,800 acres before it is fully suppressed. Resources: One Type
2 hand crew, a fuels crew, three engines and several overhead, totaling 45 personnel. Predicted smoke impacts:
Smoke impacts from this wildfire may include C.C. Cragin Reservoir, Blue Ridge communities and the Blue Ridge Ranger Station throughout the weekend. Overnight drainage of the smoke may impact the Strawberry and Pine areas. Current closures: None.
However, there may be temporary traffic control along Forest Road 300 to allow firefighters to safely work. Recent and current operations:
Burnout operations are planned for today throughout the weekend. If the weather allows, this will complete all ignitions. ###
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