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Enclosed is today’s
prescribed
fire information update for the North Kaibab Ranger District, Kaibab National Forest. Thank you! v/r D. Hercher
Ignitions complete on both Moquitch 1, 3 Prescribed fire prep work to begin elsewhere on district FREDONIA, Ariz., June 20, 2019 — Firefighters worked diligently last week to complete firing operations on both Moquitch 3 (Phase 2), and Moquitch 1 prescribed fire units, successfully treating an estimated 3,500 acres. Crews have now transitioned to holding operations only for both Moquitch units. This means that the firefighting personnel remaining on both units are assigned to ensure that the fire remains within the designated containment lines and
suppress any fire that crosses those containment lines. Additional crews will begin preparation work on the following units, but fire managers do not anticipate beginning ignitions on these units for several weeks or after monsoon season begins.
Listed in order of priority, those prescribed fire units are as follows: Tipover West Prescribed Fire: The unit is 3 miles east of Fire point about 6.5 miles west of Arizona Highway 67 along the North Kaibab Ranger District and North Rim Grand Canyon National Park boundary. The unit is approximately 2,032
acres in size. Boundaries for this unit will include FR223 on the north, FR268 on the
east and south, and FR223 on the west. Reservoir Prescribed Fire Unit: This unit is part of the overall Jacob-Ryan West prescribed fire project area and is approximately 3.5 miles northwest of Jacob Lake west of Highway 89A on the North Kaibab Ranger District. The unit
is approximately 1,571 acres in size. Boundaries for this unit will include Highway 89A on the north, FR2461A on the south, FR246 on the east, and a combination of spur roads connected by dozer line on the west. Tower Prescribed Fire Unit: This unit is part of the Dry Park prescribed fire project area and is approximately 6 miles north of the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park boundary. Fire managers anticipate conducting this burn
late summer. The unit is approximately 1,354 acres in size. Boundaries for this unit will include FR422D on the north, FR204 on the south, FR22 on the east and FR226 on the west. Blowdown Prescribed Fire Unit: This unit is part of the Dry Park prescribed fire project area and is also approximately 6 miles north of the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park boundary. Fire managers anticipate conducting this
burn late summer. The unit is approximately 1,322 acres in size. Boundaries for this unit will include FR22D on the north and east, FR22 on the south and FR422E on the west. Additional details are as follows: Desired Objectives: Management objectives for these North Zone prescribed burns include maintaining the natural role of fire in a fire-adapted ecosystem, reducing hazardous fuels accumulations, creating defensible space around structures
in developed areas, protecting sensitive cultural and natural resources, thinning Ponderosa pine regeneration where appropriate, and stimulating Aspen regeneration.
Ultimately, the intent of these objectives is to use fire like any other tool – a tool to help foster resilient, adaptive ecosystems, to mitigate wildfire risk, to deliver social, economic and environmental benefits to the public, to strengthen
communities, and to connect people to the outdoors (as outlined in the
USDA Forest Service Strategic Plan for FY15 through FY20). General Information: Implementation of any prescribed fire is dependent on weather and fuel conditions including winds, temperature, humidity, the moisture of vegetation, and ventilation conditions for dispersal of smoke. All prescribed
fires are subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. For additional information on the Smoke Management Division or to view prescribed burn authorizations for any given day, visit
www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html. Safety: As a reminder, forest visitors may still see fire personnel and vehicles in the vicinity of these units while prep work is underway. Motorists are always reminded to use caution when traveling in the vicinity of prescribed
fires, as firefighters, fire-related traffic and smoke may all be present. Smoke Impacts: During and for several days following ignitions, motorists are cautioned that smoke may be present on roadways in short durations. Smoke may also pool in low-lying roadways during overnight hours.
For more information on local air quality resources, please visit
https://www.airnow.gov/. Motorists are reminded to use caution, drive slowly, turn on headlights, and avoid stopping in areas where fire personnel is working.
Smoke impacts may include Jacob Lake, AZ Highway 67, AZ Highway 89A and forest roads directly along the burn unit boundaries (a detailed map will be released once fire managers get closer to commencing operations).
Fire Information: Additional prescribed fire information will be available once operations are underway. Notifications of upcoming prescribed fires are provided regularly throughout the year, and members of the public can find this
information through the following sources:
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Fire Information Recorded Hotline: 928-635-8311
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Twitter: www.twitter.com/kaibabnf
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Kaibab Facebook:
www.facebook.com/KaibabNF/
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Kaibab website “Recent News”:
www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
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Kaibab North Zone Rx Fire:
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6383/
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Attachment:
1650-d3__Ignitions complete on both Moquitch 1 & 3_2019_0624.pdf
Description: 1650-d3__Ignitions complete on both Moquitch 1 & 3_2019_0624.pdf
