Thunderstorms Ignite Several Fires on The Kaibab
Incident: 22 Prescribed Fire
Released: 5/8/2008
WILLIAMS, Ariz. - Thunderstorms passed over the Kaibab National Forest on Tuesday afternoon igniting several fires on the Kaibab National Forest between Williams and Tusayan. Suppression actions are being taken on all of the new fires except the "22" Wildland Fire Use fire on the Tusayan Ranger District. The "22" Fire is about 25 acres, 10 miles southeast of the Tusayan community and is being managed for resource benefits. All of the other new starts have been contained at less than an acre.
The resource benefits from the "22" Wildland Fire Use fire include: reducing hazardous fuels, protecting and improving wildlife habitat, protecting archaeological sites and restoring fire in its natural role in the ecosystem. This area has benefited from numerous prescribed fire projects over the past 5 years. These treated areas will act as natural barriers to rapid fire spread and will assist fire managers in keeping the fire within a pre-determined area. Actions have been taken to secure the north and the east sides of the "22" Wildland Fire Use fire to allow it to back slowly into the wind toward the southwest.
Each natural ignition in a fire use management area must meet specific conditions before it can be managed for resource benefits. Some of the criteria include: whether threats to life, property or resources can be alleviated, if sufficient resources are available to manage an incident over the long-term and whether the potential risks outweigh the benefits of a specific wildland fire use incident. If the risks outweigh the benefits, the fire will be suppressed.
Once the decision is made that a fire will be put into wildland fire use status, fire managers actively manage the fire by determining the appropriate boundaries, weather conditions, fuels conditions, etc., under which the fire will be allowed to burn. The "22" Wildland Fire Use Fire will be managed as a natural part of the ecosystem in a defined area as long as it continues to meet resouce objectives.
Closures: There are no closures associated with the "22" Wildland Fire Use fire or the other new starts on the forest.
