Kaibab National Forest has been taking advantage of unseasonably cool and wet conditions to manage lightning-caused fires to remove hazardous fuels, promote healthy vegetation and improve forest health. These environmental conditions persisted beyond the typical spring prescribed fire season.
The Kaibab National Forest is a fire-adapted ecosystem, with native species, such as the Ponderosa pine, dependent upon frequent, lower-intensity fire to thrive. The thick bark of Ponderosa pines protects trees from all but the most intense fires, and fire on the forest floor provides a nutrient...