Kaibab National Forest Continuing to Manage Prescr
Incident: Dutch WFU Wildland Fire Used for Resource Benefit
Released: 9/11/2007
WILLIAMS, Ariz. - Kaibab National Forest fire managers are continuing to conduct prescribed burns on both the Williams and Tusayan districts while also managing a naturally-ignited fire for resource benefit on the Williams district.
In the Williams area, fire managers treated 287 acres with prescribed fire yesterday. They plan to continue burning in the City project area through Friday. The City prescribed burn is located northwest of Williams on the north side of Interstate 40. The area being treated with prescribed fire is along Forest Road 124 near the Elephant Rocks Golf Course and around Holden Lake. Throughout the duration of the burn project, smoke will be very visible from Williams and I-40 and will likely settle into the area near the golf course during the overnight hours.
The City project is a large-scale thinning and burning project surrounding the City of Williams. The objectives of the project are to improve forest health conditions, reduce the risk of high-intensity wildland fire, and protect public and private resources in the project area.
On the Tusayan Ranger District, fire managers treated 170 acres with prescribed fire yesterday. They plan to continue burning in the area this week. The Red Horse burn is located just west of Russell Tank and north of Bucklar Ranch. Up to 1,800 acres are available for prescribed fire treatments in the area. While smoke is not expected to reach Tusayan, fire managers will be monitoring smoke impacts at Bucklar Ranch.
The Kaibab National Forest is also managing a wildland fire use (WFU) fire on the Williams Ranger District. WFU fires are naturally-ignited (lightning) and are managed to meet resource objectives such as improving wildlife habitat, reducing the potential for high-intensity wildland fires, and restoring fire to its natural role in the ecosystem.
The Dutch WFU Fire has grown to 125 acres and is located just east of Dutch Kid Knoll, which is about 8 miles southwest of Williams.
The Dutch WFU Fire is located within an area that was scheduled for burning this fall as part of the Twin project. It was started by lightning Sept. 3. Fire managers plan to keep the WFU fire south of Forest Road 122 and west of Forest Road 42. Smoke from the Dutch WFU Fire is visible from I-40 and Williams but is not settling into local communities.
Fire managers go through a rigorous decision-making process before putting any fire into WFU status. Many factors could lead to the suppression of a potential WFU fire including threats to life, property or resources; lack of firefighting personnel and equipment; and, significant fire activity in the local area. Fire managers have to weigh the potential risks and benefits of any particular fire before putting it into WFU status.
For more information, please contact Jackie Denk at (928) 635-8314 or Mike Schulte at (928) 607-6201.
