Kaibab National Forest

Recent wet weather has created potentially hazardous driving conditions on many Kaibab National Forest roads, and motorists are urged to plan ahead and exercise caution when visiting.

While Kaibab National Forest roads remain open, motorists should be aware that they could encounter a range of conditions and should prepare accordingly. On the Williams and Tusayan districts of the forest south of the Grand Canyon, rain received yesterday on top of already melting snow from last week's storm has caused roads to become slushy, icy, and, in some cases, temporarily impassable.

Recent wet weather has presented favorable opportunities for fire crews to burn piles on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. Fire personnel plan to begin work today in the Hardy project area, which is located about 10 miles northeast of the City of Williams.
 

Due to recent precipitation received on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest, fire managers plan to conduct pile burning beginning today and continuing through the middle of next week.

The piles are the result of forest restoration projects, and the purpose of burning them is to reduce forest fuels that could contribute to high-intensity wildfires. Fire managers will continue to seek opportunities throughout the winter to conduct pile burns. Areas to be treated when conditions are favorable are as follows:

With the arrival of significant precipitation to the Kaibab Plateau, fire managers on the North Kaibab Ranger District of Kaibab National Forest plan to conduct pile burn operations starting tomorrow and continuing periodically throughout the winter as conditions and staffing allow. The piles are the result of mechanical thinning projects designed to help forest restoration efforts, and the goal of burning them is to further reduce fuels that could feed high-intensity wildfire.

Kaibab National Forest fire managers will be continuing treatments on the Russell Prescribed Fire Project located on the Tusayan Ranger District approximately 18 miles southeast of the town of Tusayan beginning Tuesday. A 700 acre unit will be the first of several blocks to be ignited within the 2130 acre project area in the days ahead providing forest and weather conditions remain favorable to meet land management objectives.

Kaibab National Forest fire managers plan to continue prescribed fire treatments on additional units of the Three Sisters Prescribed Fire Project north of Williams beginning Tuesday of this week. 2050 acres have been successfully treated to date with approximately 5350 acres remaining.

Operations may continue throughout the week as weather conditions permit. Daily ignitions will only occur when environmental factors align with the required prescription that will achieve desired results and meet land management objectives.

Fire crews have successfully treated 8152 acres of forested landscape over the past 4 days bringing the Elk / Lee Prescribed Fire Project to full completion.

Effective Sunday, Oct. 27, the Kaibab National Forest will lift the area closure around the Ikes Fire, including the popular Rainbow Rim Trail that has been in place since the lightning caused wildfire started in late July.