Marteen Fire Update
Incident: Marteen Wildland Fire Used for Resource Benefit
Released: 8/14/2008
The Marteen Wildland Fire Use located 15 miles northeast of Williams has grown to 137 acres. The fire is moving at a moderate pace through ponderosa pine and grass near Red Hill. Fire activity slowed Thursday afternoon as clouds moved into the area.
The fire is progressing southeast toward Squaw Mountain. Thursday, personnel took measures to prevent possible rapid fire spread upslope on Squaw Mountain. Personnel are working to keep fire behavior at a desirable level as it achieves resource benefits. These benefits include reintroducing fire as a necessary part of the ecosystem, reducing the size and intensity of future fires in the area and improving forest health.
The Kaibab National Forest is participating in a pilot program this season that allows fire managers a full range of management options on naturally ignited fires on federal lands. About 30 sites are testing some proposed modifications to the Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy.
When the Marteen Fire started, forest officials assessed possible growth given the current weather conditions, time of season, terrain and fuels. They also considered the fire's location relative to a previous prescribed burn area that will help prevent rapid fire spread.
On Tuesday, managers determined fire effects were benefiting the ecosystem and achieving desired land management objectives. Therefore, it was decided to shift management to a Wildland Fire Use (WFU) strategy under the authority of the pilot program.
The next step in the management process will be to develop a comprehensive plan for managing the fire throughout the duration of the incident. The plan will identify resource and environmental concerns and the specific actions that will be taken as fire approaches certain areas.
Two additional fires on the forest are being managed similarly to the Marteen Fire. The Oak Wildland Fire Use, 10 miles south of Williams is 473 acres and the Newt Wildland Fire Use, 13 miles east of Tusayan is 450 acres. Activity increased slightly on these fires Thursday under dry and warm conditions.
For additional information, please contact Punky Moore, Fire Information Officer, (928-635-5653).
-USFS-
