Firing operations near wildfire to begin east of Clints Well

Fire managers are preparing to conduct firing operations on several hundred acres of land around the Tango Fire, a lightning-caused wildfire first reported last week and located 8.5 miles northeast of Clints Well.

Fire managers are planning to begin firing operations the morning of Aug. 15 and plan to conclude by the end of Friday in advance of forecasted monsoonal rains.

Smoke will be noticeable to residents of the Happy Jack and Clints Well communities and may also be visible to communities below Mogollon Rim and possibly to motorists along Interstate 17 in the area of Camp Verde.

There are no structures threatened by the Tango Fire.

Wildfires are a natural part of the Coconino National Forest’s ecosystem, and when managed diligently and properly following the requisite planning process, improve the landscape long-term in several ways.

Low-intensity fire is a form of land treatment, which works to release nutrients into soils and reduce the accumulation of hazardous fuels (such as dry pine needles and fallen leaves) on the forest floor.

Low-intensity managed fire can also protect critical infrastructure, watersheds, wildlife habitat and culturally sensitive areas from future high-severity wildfires.

The Tango Fire is in an area where previous fires have occurred and prescribed burns, such as the Blue Ridge Urban Interface project, are ongoing. Proactive firing operations on the Tango Fire will increase the amount of treated land near the Clear Creek communities, and work to tie together the fire history in this fire-dependent ecosystem.

This will help further reduce hazardous fuels and help protect infrastructure, property and resources near the surrounding communities.

The management of the Tango Fire aligns with the Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to increase the use of landscape treatments – including fire – to improve forest resiliency for generations to come.