Marteen Fire Update
Incident: Marteen Wildland Fire Used for Resource Benefit
Released: 10/31/2008
WILLIAMS, Ariz. - Fire activity increased noticeably Thursday on the Marteen Wildland Fire Use, 15 miles northeast of Williams. The fire grew to 9,947 acres under dry, warm conditions and southwest winds as it continued to spread north and east near Forest Roads 88 and 118.
Managers continue to apply the full range of management options on this incident to meet resource objectives. Every day, managers assess firefighter and public safety, evaluate risks to cultural and heritage resources and review potential threats to private property in order to manage the fire within proposed boundaries. Some of the resource benefits from this fire include improving habitat, creating fuel breaks that will moderate future fire behavior, reducing dangerous fuel accumulation and reintroducing fire as an important element in the ecosystem.
Thursday, personnel continued to reinforce the eastern boundary of the fire by burning vegetation between the boundary and the edge of the fire. In the afternoon, there was a spot fire near Red Hill which prompted control measures to prevent the fire from gaining momentum and running uphill. Personnel worked into the evening hours to ensure the fire was confined on the northwest side of the hill. Meanwhile, on the west side of the fire, about 40 acres burned on Laws Hill.
An 8-person crew from the Southwest Fire Use Training Academy is assigned to this incident. They are obtaining on-site training with experienced incident personnel to gather key information on fuels, fire behavior and weather to assist managers in decision making. Additional resources on this incident include: 3 engines, 1 Type 3 helicopter, 1 water tender and 1 dozer.
There is a change in the general forecast for the weekend with partly cloudy skies, cooler temperatures and breezy conditions.
The Marteen Wildland Fire Use started by lightning Aug. 7 and grew to 700 acres before going dormant during monsoon rains. Renewed fire activity began Oct. 15.
For additional information, please contact Punky Moore, Fire Information Officer, (928-635-5653).
