Type-3 IC Assumes Command of Cat, Stina – Immediately Stresses Safety
Fredonia, Ariz., Aug. 9, 2018 — For Immediate Release. As fire behavior progresses,
the Cat Fire-Stina Fire Incident Commander Mike Uebel stresses the need for public and firefighter safety. “We have many wheels turning right now as is often the case within the first 24-72 hours of an incident,” said Uebel. “I can’t stress
enough the importance to our forest visitors to be aware of your surroundings and adhere to fire closures. These closures are in place not only to protect the public, but also to allow firefighters to do their jobs. Fighting fires in this terrain requires
an intimate knowledge of the landscape – distractions from people ignoring fire closures is counterproductive to accomplishing that mission.” Cat Fire Overview Date reported: August 6, 2018 Fuel: Mixed conifer Weather:
Hot and dry conditions will continue across most of northern Arizona today. Strategy: The current plan is to contain and suppress this wildfire, which
is located in the steep terrain of Wildcat Canyon in the vicinity of Saddle Mountain Wilderness. Situational update: Hot and dry conditions on the North Kaibab Ranger District
continued yesterday, with active fire behavior increasing in the mid-to-late afternoon. Currently, the Cat Fire is estimated to be approximately 2,000 acres.
Closures: Fire management resources are planning to close all roads within
the planning area boundary, which is Forest Roads 213 and 220 on the north, FR 610 on the east and south, and House Rock Valley Road 8910 on the east.
The following trails will also be closed: Arizona Trail from FR213 to FR610, North Canyon Trail, South Canyon Trail and Pt. Imperial
and Nankoweap Trails, which are both located on Kaibab National Forest and Grand Canyon National Park land. Patrols are currently placing closure signage and roving these areas to alert campers and hikers of this closure. An official closure order, including
a map of the restricted area, will be posted on the Kaibab National Forest website under Alerts & Warnings once it is signed. The closure order will remain in place until lifted. Stina Fire Overview Start date: July 26, 2018 Fuel: Ponderosa Pine and Quaking Aspen Weather:
Hot and dry conditions will continue across most of northern Arizona today. Strategy: The current plan is to contain and suppress this wildfire, which
is located northeast of Fire Point. Situational Update: Fire activity increased yesterday, resulting in an estimated
600 acres as of this morning. Fire behavior is characterized as very active and pushing to the southeast. Currently, the Stina Fire has crossed into the Deer Springs, and Quaking Aspen drainages in Grand Canyon National Park and resources are now working to
catch and suppress any spot fires that may be jumping containment lines. Closures: This closure area is subject to change as the incident evolves.
Currently, a closure order is going into effect for Forest Roads 223 (going to Fire Point), 206, 271, 609, 250 road south of the 250/294 junction and all Rainbow Rim trails and scenic viewpoints south of Locust Point. The trail between Locust Point and Parissawampitts
Point will remain open for forest visitors. The closure order, including a map of the restricted area, will be posted on the Kaibab National Forest website under Alerts & Warnings once it is signed. The closure order will remain in place until lifted. Smoke:
Smoke is visible on both the North and South Rims of the park, and there is a regional haze present in surrounding communities. Fire managers recognize that
air pollution from wildfire smoke can pose serious health risks for people residing in affected areas. For more information on local air quality resources, please visit
https://www.airnow.gov/.
For fire information on the Kaibab National Forest, visit
www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab and Inciweb under the name of the fire at
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov or visit us on Facebook and Twitter @KaibabNF or call (928) 635-8311 for recorded fire information. 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. To manage your subscription visit http://www.fs.fed.us/news/subscription.shtml |
Attachment:
1650_d3_Type 3 IC Assumes Command of Stina, Cat_2018_0809.pdf
Description: 1650_d3_Type 3 IC Assumes Command of Stina, Cat_2018_0809.pdf
