Officials to Lift Castle Fire Closure on the North Kaibab Ranger District
FREDONIA, Ariz., Sept. 13, 2019 --Effective today, the Kaibab National Forest will lift the area closure around the Castle Fire that has been
in place since the lightning caused wildfire started in mid-July.
Members of the public can now access the area, which had been closed due to public safety during ongoing fire operations, including areas of active fire, and the presence of firefighting
equipment and personnel. The public Is advised to have heightened awareness about potential safety hazards and exercise increased vigilance regarding personal safety.
"The district was very successful at restoring fire into a fire dependent ecosystem, which will greatly reduce the risk of future catastrophic wildfire and improve
overall forest health," said North Kaibab District Ranger Randall Walker. "We now believe it is appropriate to lift the closure and allow the public to resume activities in the area such as hunting and fuelwood gathering, but that doesn't mean hazards don't
exist. We urge the public to understand the potential hazards and to prepare accordingly. We want them to be able to use their public lands but we want them to do it safely, recognizing that any area recently impacted by wildfire will likely have some greater
risk than other areas."
Potential risks in any area recently burned by wildfire include the following:
Visitors to the Castle Fire area are advised to follow these outdoor safety best practices:
Visitors can check with the North Kaibab Ranger District office to get the latest Information regarding current conditions:
North Kaibab Ranger District: 928-643-7395,
www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
Jacob Lake Visitor Center: 928-643-7298
For additional information please visit:
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Attachment:
1650-1_d3_CastleFireClosureLifted_2019_0913.pdf
Description: 1650-1_d3_CastleFireClosureLifted_2019_0913.pdf