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Coconino NF fires are active, producing smoke FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., Aug. 7, 2018, For Immediate Release –
Fire managers with the Coconino National Forest continue monitoring and utilizing several lightning-caused fires to benefit the landscape and maintain a healthy ecosystem
by allowing fire to fulfill its natural role and consume forest debris. Information and details about the Platypus, Rhino, Surveyor, Deer and Bristow 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. Actions are also taken to minimize smoke impacts where possible and necessary. Thunderstorms building in the area of the fires may randomly change wind directions making smoke patterns very difficult to predict.
Additionally, monsoon weather and precipitation may extinguish any of these wildfires at any time, which would bring the fire to a conclusion. To learn more about smoke visit Arizona Department of Environmental Quality at
http://bit.ly/SmokeHealthAwareness. 1. PLATYPUS and RHINO FIRES OVERVIEW (within the same wilderness)
Discovery date: July
28, 2018. Cause: Lightning. Location: Approximately
4 miles and 6 miles northwest of Sedona in Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness more than 6 miles from the nearest trailhead. (Lat/Long:
34.94291, -111.8701 &
34.970900, -111.859100) Current size: The Platypus
Fire is approximately 400 acres and the Rhino Fire is approximately 120 acres. Fire modeling indicates the fires are unlikely to grow outside of the wilderness or pose a significant risk to communities or natural resources. Resources: Lookouts
and aircraft periodically monitor the fire as needed. No actions are currently being taken due to extremely hazardous terrain and limited risk of large fire growth.
Predicted smoke impacts:
Smoke is visible from Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona and the Verde Valley. Smoke dispersing to the east may settle in Flagstaff and surrounding low-level areas. Also, the Enchantment Resort, Boyton Canyon and Seven Canyons areas of Sedona can expect localized smoke,
especially in the early morning hours. Current closures: None. Recent and current operations:
These fires are active on Tuesday. Fire managers are reinforcing the rim roads near the Rhino Fire to ensure it will not leave the wilderness. Because these fires are in extremely rugged areas of the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness at the edge of sheer
cliffs fire managers have only been able to monitor them. Any firefighter working in the area would be placed at significant risk, particularly if an injury required rapid transportation for medical care. 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 Interstate 17. (Lat/Long:
34.863611, -111.598500) Current size: 3,922
acres. Current resources: Two
engines and miscellaneous overhead totaling 12 firefighters.
Predicted smoke Impacts:
Smoke is lessening with good ventilation pushing it east toward Anderson Mesa. Settling smoke during the evening is expected to be in Woods Canyon, Jack’s Canyon and may impact I-17 near
Munds Park. Both Arizona Department of Transportation and Coconino National Forest continue to monitor conditions near Rocky Park and Fox Ranch Road exits. In addition, there are chances of smoke changing directions without notice as thunderstorms in the area
are predicted. These storms could change the direction of the smoke moving it into Sedona and the Verde Valley. Current closures: None. Recent and current operations: The fire is continuing to burn interior
pocket of fuel in the containment area. It will burn less every day producing less smoke than Tuesday. 3. SURVEYOR FIRE OVERVIEW (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6070/)
Discovery date: July
28, 2018 Cause: Lightning. Location: Approximately
3.5 miles south of Oak Creek Canyon Vista, south of Flagstaff east of state Route 89A. (Lat/Long:
34.979611, -111.740389) Current size: 10 acres.
Current resources: Two
engines totaling 12 firefighters are assigned. Predicted smoke impacts:
Light smoke is moving east. Expect smoke to be near Oak Creek Canyon. Smoke also may settle in Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona, especially overnight. Current closures: None. Recent and current operations: The fire has dried out
and is burning in its containment area. Firefighters are monitoring it closely until it receives significant moisture. 4. 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: 4,000
acres. Current resources: One
engine is patrolling the area, approximately five firefighters. Predicted smoke impacts:
Light smoke from dense fuels is expected to rise and move northeast. No smoke impacts are expected to U.S. Highways 180 or 89 Wednesday. Current closures: None. Recent and current operations: Fire activity is minimal.
The fire is burning primarily in heavy dead and down debris from the 1996 Horseshoe Fire.
5. 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: 800 acres
in a 1,800-acre planning area. Resources: Firefighters
are continuing to monitor this fire. Predicted smoke impacts:
Smoke impacts from this wildfire is increasing as fuels dry out and it’s expected to travel northeast. Overnight smoke drainage may impact the Strawberry, Pine and Verde Valley areas. Current closures: None.
Recent and current operations:
The Deer Fire will begin some ignitions of unburned fuels by firefighters to keep it contained in the planning area on Wednesday. It is predicted the drainage areas near Forest Road 300 will begin burning more because of their heavier fuels starting Wednesday.
### PHOTO INFORMATION: The Rhino Fire, left, is at 120 acres and the Platypus Fire is at about 400 acres. Both fires are burning in the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness in extremely rugged terrain where it would be very risky to put firefighters
in to suppress them. USDA Forest Service photo.
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