Fire crews began ignitions on the Reed Prescribed Fire Project Monday, which is located approximately three miles east of the town of Tusayan on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest.
The first 214 acres were successfully treated by approximately 50 personnel working at the burn site. Low to moderate ground fire consumed much of the hazardous woody fuels off the landscape meeting restoration objectives. Work will continue over the next several days providing conditions remain optimal to continue treating the remaining 1126 acres on this project.
Managers will continue with their strategy of burning smaller units early in the day, and allowing more time throughout the afternoon for breezy winds to transport smoke away from sensitive areas minimizing impacts to the community. This project is expected to be completed in one week.
Smoke will be visible from State Route 64, Tusayan, and the Grand Canyon National Park. Some light residual smoke may settle into drainages and low-lying areas around Tusayan overnight but will generally lift shortly after sunrise.
Although there are no closed areas near this project, the public is urged to use caution when passing through any active fire area. The portion of the Arizona Trail within the burn area remains open.
Crews will move south to the Williams Ranger District the following week to begin treatments on the 4200 acre Marteen Prescribed Fire Project which is located five miles northwest of Spring Valley, and east of Red Hill. Specific information will be forthcoming as this project begins.
Exact ignition dates are unknown as burning is dependent upon daily agency administrator approval and conditions within the ranges outlined in each prescribed fire plan. However, we are committed to providing the public with ongoing updates and as much advance notice as possible. Sign up to receive Kaibab NF news releases in your email.
Our land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape. Prescribed fires help reduce hazardous fuels that have accumulated due to drought, climate change, insects and disease, and decades of fire suppression. Fire also recycles nutrients back to the soil, promotes the growth of trees, wildflowers, and other plants, and improves habitat for threatened and endangered species. These efforts align with the Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy which aims to increase prescribed fire and other treatments to improve forest resiliency for generations to come.
All prescribed fires on the Kaibab National Forest are subject to Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. The department’s Air Quality Division: Smoke Management webpage provides details about its air quality program.
Additional information can be found on the Kaibab NF website, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, or by calling the Fire Information Hotline at 928-635-8311 or contacting local ranger stations.