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Please see the attached news release regarding pile burn plans this winter on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab
National Forest. Thank you! Respectfully, D. Hercher
Pile burning continues on North Kaibab Ranger District
Fredonia, Ariz., Oct. 22, 2018 — For Immediate Release. North Zone fire managers continue
planning for pile burning this winter, targeting areas across the district as conditions allow, but initially focusing on higher elevation areas and within the vicinity of Jacob Lake. These piles are typically composed of vegetative materials, commonly called slash, such as tops, limbs, branches, brush, and other recently cut miscellaneous materials
resulting from forest management activities such as thinning, pruning, timber harvesting, and wildfire hazard mitigation. Upon arranging slash into compact, teepee-shapes and allowing the piles to dry, fire managers burn the piles during safe burning conditions,
generally after a snowfall or significant wetting-rain events. “With recent significant moisture continuing to blanket the Kaibab Plateau, fuel moistures continue to rise making it too wet for broadcast burning,” said North Zone
Prescribed Fire and Fuels Technician Dominic Ali. “So we have switched gears and begun targeting the brush and slash piles resulting from fuels reduction and mechanical thinning projects over the last few years. By reducing these hazardous fuels, we can help
reduce the threat of future high severity, high-intensity wildfires.” Desired Objectives: Fire managers have recently accomplished approximately 130 acres
of pile burning within the vicinity of DeMotte Park, and plan to target an additional 2,000 acres as conditions allow.
Smoke: During ignitions, motorists are cautioned that smoke may be present on roadways
in short durations, but is generally expected to have minimal impact. Pile burn operations require moisture in the surrounding vegetation and as such typically produce lighter smoke than a prescribed broadcast burn. Safety: Areas anticipated to be impacted by smoke include AZ Highway 67, Forest Road
22, Forest Road 611, Kaibab Lodge, and the North Rim Country Store. Motorists are reminded to use caution, drive slowly, turn on headlights, and avoid stopping in areas where fire personnel is working. As a reminder, all prescribed burning is subject to approval
by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and appropriate weather conditions. To view prescribed burn authorizations, visit
http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html. Fire information: Additional information
is made available through the following: InciWeb:
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6237/
Website:
www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/KaibabNF/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/KaibabNF
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