Oak Wildland Fire Use Update
Incident: Oak Wildland Fire Used for Re
Released: 8/4/2008
The Oak Wildland Fire Use (WFU) is located 10 miles south of Williams, AZ and is currently 473 acres. Activity has decreased significantly under a strong monsoonal weather pattern. The fire received measurable precipitation the past two days. Fire managers expect the fire to stay in its current location with little growth until the wet weather system passes and dry conditions return.
Wildland fire use management is often a long duration project. While the Oak WFU remains within a predetermined area and achieves specific land management objectives, fire officials will continue to manage it for resource benefits.
One of the primary resource benefits the Oak WFU is producing is the reintroduction of fire in a part of the forest that has been without this natural disturbance for too long. The absence of fire activity in large areas across the forest has resulted in heavy, dangerous fuel accumulation. Managing natural fire such as the Oak WFU under favorable low intensity conditions decreases the potential for future large, out of control fires and promotes a healthy ecosystem.
The Oak Fire is located south and east of Rocky Ridge. It started July 12 and was initially managed under a confinement strategy. After weeks of evaluation, observation and assessment, fire managers decided to shift the Oak Fire from confinement status to fire use management for resource benefits. This decision is authorized in a pilot program testing proposed modifications to the Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy, 2003. The Kaibab National Forest is one of 30 test sites participating in the pilot program this season.
Today, personnel are monitoring fire activity along Forest Roads 354 and 129, scouting areas where fireline will be built to stop fire spread to the north and east and preparing aspen stands for potential fire spread.
Smoke from the fire is not visible today. However, if dry, warm conditions return, smoke may again be visible occasionally along stretches of I-40, in Williams and in nearby communities. For more information about air quality in the Williams area, visit the following website: http://www.satguard.com/usfs.
Under the heading Real Time Data, click on Location; choose Arizona from the list on the left and then click on the red dot near Flagstaff to see 24 hour data. Please note that the dark blue line gives the 24 hour running average air quality for the area. The light blue line gives hourly readings which can spike up and down depending on the time of day, traffic and temperature inversions.
For more information, please contact Punky Moore, Fire Information Officer, (928-635-5653). -USFS-
