SOUTHWESTERN-NEWS-RELEASE: Coconino National Forest Smoke Information

[Karen E Malis-Clark <kmclark@xxxxxxxxx>]

The Coconino National Forest has established this method of notifying you
of planned and current fuels treatment activities on the forest. For confirmation
or for more information, please visit our "Current Conditions"
page of the Coconino National Forest web-site. You may click 
this link http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/conditions/current-rx.shtml,
or use the "shortcut" to our main page: www.coconinoforest.us

The Coconino County Health Department provides information about smoke
concerns and offers suggestions for minimizing smoke impacts to your family
and home at the following website http://www.coconino.az.gov/health.aspx?id=6564.



U.S. Forest Service
Coconino National Forest
www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino
               
               
www.twitter.com/CoconinoNF
www.flickr.com/photos/coconinonationalforest
928-527-3600

September 13, 2010

Lightning-caused fires update

Two lightning-caused fires on the Coconino
National Forest are being managed for resource benefits, including:
        Re-introducing
natural fire into the ecosystem.
        Reducing
heavy fuel loading to diminish catastrophic wildfire danger.
        Maintaining
and enhancing healthy wildlife habitat.
        And recycling
valuable nutrients back into the soil.

Weir Fire

The Weir Fire, burning about one mile north
of Stoneman Lake and five miles east of I-17, is now estimated at 500 acres.
 Fire activity is spreading north to the Lee Butte, Fain Mountain
and Gash Mountain, so visitors and hunters are advised to avoid those areas.
Smoke is visible from Interstate 17, Flagstaff, Mormon Lake and the Verde
Valley.  

About 30 fire personnel are working the fire,
including five engines. No structures or developed recreation areas are
threatened.  

The Weir Fire was ignited by lightning August
16 and is burning within the Rattlesnake Quiet Area and Game Management
Unit 6A which is currently open for an archery-elk hunt. Several forest
roads are temporarily closed, including FR 239 and 665.

Ranger Complex

The Ranger Complex includes the Ranger Fire
and Bravo Fires, which ignited in mid-July between Highway 87 and Blue
Ridge/C.C. Cragin Reservoir.  The complex has grown to 2500 acres.
Little additional growth is expected but smoke may impact the subdivisions
at Blue Ridge and along State Highway 87. An engine is monitoring the fire
daily. No private land or developed recreation sites are threatened.

Fire managers will ignite about 200 acres
a day this week on the East Clear Creek prescribed fire project adjacent
to Ranger Fire, although managing the lightning-caused fire activity takes
precedence.

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