Managing Fire for Resource Benefits
Incident: Real Prescribed Fire
Released: 6/4/2009
Flagstaff, AZ - Fire specialists on the Coconino National Forest are managing several lightning-caused fires to benefit forest natural resources.
- Point Fire - about 3 miles northeast of Pine, on Milk Ranch Point along the Mogollon Rim. Estimated 50 acres. About 70 personnel including 2 20-person hotshot crews, four engines, medic, safety officer and others. Smoke is visible from the Pine and Strawberry communities. Crews preparing for burn-out operation planned for Saturday, June 6. Due to fire operations, Milk Ranch Point is closed to public access, including Forest Roads 218 and 218A.
- Tucker Fire - about 8 miles south of the Mogollon Rim/Blue Ridge Ranger Station on Dick Hart Ridge. Estimated 40 acres. Crews are monitoring.
- Real Fire - about 5 miles southeast of Munds Park, east of I-17. Estimated 20 acres. About 24 personnel including 3 engines, fuels crew, and others. Smoke visible from I-17.
- Rattle Ridge Fire - about 3 miles northwest of Stoneman Lake and east of Interstate 17. About 1/2 acre. Crews are monitoring.
These lightning-caused fires benefit the fire-dependant ponderosa pine ecosystem in several ways, including:
·· Re-introduce natural fire into the ecosystem.
·· Reduce heavy fuel loading to diminish catastrophic wildfire danger.
·· Maintain and enhance healthy wildfire habitat.
·· Recycle valuable nutrients back into the soil.
·· Raise over-story base height to prevent ground fires from climbing into low-hanging branches and getting into the tree canopy and causing a dangerous crown fire.
