wildfire

National Park Service wildland firefighters are conducting prescribed fires starting as early as September 20th until as late as October 31, 2017. Specific dates cannot be provided as these prescribed fires are dependent on weather and other factors. Visitors to the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument may encounter National Park Service firefighters or see smoke columns. Visitors should anticipate possible temporary area closures, smoke, and firefighting equipment on roads such as fire engines, UTV’s, ATV’s, and helicopters.

State Route 366 has reopened on Mount Graham in southeastern Arizona after a six-week closure due to the danger of flooding and debris flows after the Frye Fire, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The road, also known as Swift Trail, connects with US 191 about 20 miles south of Safford. It had been closed at Ladybug Saddle near milepost 131, but as of Thursday, Sept. 14, it’s open again to Columbine at milepost 143.

Location: Safford Ranger District, Coronado National Forest

Location: Safford Ranger District, Coronado National Forest

The Frye Fire Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) work on Mt. Graham is continuing with progress in many areas.  Over the last week a crew from the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management camped at Riggs Flat Campground and completed a seven-day work project. Their work included clearing road culverts along most of the burned area road system, clearing floatable debris from stream channels near critical road crossings, and removal of hazard trees. 

Unstable conditions caused by heavy rains following the Boundary Fire, which was active through much of June, have necessitated continuing the closure of the burned area on and around Kendrick Mountain on both the Kaibab and Coconino National Forests in order to ensure public safety.

The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests’ Lakeside Ranger District plans to burn slash piles on roughly 15 acres of forest land August 14 through August 20, weather permitting. Ignition will take place on Timber Knoll just south of Ojo Bonito Estates. Smoke impact is anticipated along Highway 60 and within the Vernon Community. In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to use caution when traveling in the vicinity of the pile burn as smoke may reduce visibility in the area.    

The Frye Fire Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) process has noted several success stories over the last two weeks.  The massive wasting of rock and debris seems to have stabilized across most of the burned area. Although the monsoon rains were not present for most of the last week, a storm over Mt Graham deposited nearly an inch of rain Saturday night August 12, 2017. There was very little evidence of additional rock and debris flows on Sunday morning.

On Monday, August 14, through Friday, August 18, the Forest Service plans to conduct the annual aerial survey for insect and disease outbreaks on the Tonto National Forest.  Forest Service airplanes and helicopters regularly fly over private, state, and National Forest System lands at low altitudes to perform a variety of natural resource management missions, including insect and disease surveys, remote sensing to acquire aerial images and data, and firefighting.

Aerial seeding of the Frye Fire began yesterday as part of the implementation of the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER).  Approximately 180 acres were accomplished before the flying operation was shut down due to unfavorable weather conditions.  The operation began again today and will continue until the project is completed.  The airplane being used for this project is an AT-802 Air Tractor capable of carrying approximately 6,000 pounds of seeding material to be broadcast over the fire area.  Since the majority of the area being seeded on the fire exceeds 8,000 feet, the load has been r

The Pine Hollow wildfire received significant moisture yesterday, and as a result rain showers moderated fire behavior on the lightning-caused fire resulting in no growth in the last 24 hours. However, as the weekend approaches a drying trend is forecasted for the Kaibab Plateau, and with that trend fire managers anticipate smoke sightings to increase.

Fire personnel also responded to three new lightning-caused fires within the last 48 hours. There has been a total of 10 new lightning-caused starts on the North Zone within the last two weeks.