Public domain image courtesy of Dave Menke, USFWS, St. George News
FREDONIA, Ariz. — Plans for the 2017-2018 prescribed fire season across Kaibab National Forest and the north rim of Grand Canyon National Park have been revised.
As conditions have become favorable over the past ten days, the burn’s focus has narrowed, and firefighters are ready to begin hazardous fuels reduction treatments within the Tipover East prescribed fire unit as early as Tuesday.
- Fuels: The Tipover area consists of vegetation that is predominantly first-entry mixed conifer, which in this case means the area has not seen fire disturbance in more than 100 years and therefore contains above-average fuel loads potentially posing a higher risk of a large-scale wildfire. Fire managers plan to treat approximately 2,500 acres during the season.
- Location: The unit is located on a strip of forested land along the boundary of Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest west of Arizona state Route 67.
- Objectives: Reduce accumulations of hazardous fuels and protect sensitive cultural and natural resources.
- Smoke: Smoke impacts may include Arizona state routes 89A and 67, as well as Marble Canyon and other visitor areas.
- Safety: During prescribed fires, motorists are cautioned that smoke may be present in short duration, which may impact roads and populated areas. Motorists are reminded to use caution, drive slowly, turn on headlights and avoid stopping in areas where fire personnel are working.
As a reminder, all prescribed burning is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and appropriate weather conditions. For additional information on the department’s Smoke Management Division of the and to view prescribed burns authorized on any given day, click here.
Resources
- Fire information.
- Inciweb.
- Kaibab National Forest phone line: 928-635-8311.
- Test message: text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews