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Kaibab managing lightning caused fire on North Rim
Fire managers plan to allow Locust Fire to burn, crews to manage fire in a 3,283-acre boundary in the coming weeks

2014 McRae Fire. Photo/U.S.F.S.

2014 McRae Fire. Photo/U.S.F.S.

FREDONIA, Ariz. - The Locust Fire burning near the Rainbow Rim Trail on the North Kaibab Ranger District has seen some growth on the east and northwest sides over the last seven days and is currently at 85 acres. The lightning-caused fire was discovered by fire personnel during an aerial reconnaissance flight on June 15. As of June 21, the fire had grown to 85 acres.

The fire is located 39 miles south-southeast of Fredonia, Arizona and northeast of Locust Point. Forest officials are managing the fire for multiple resource objectives.

Over the coming weeks, fire crews will manage the fire within a 3,283-acre boundary. Roads, trails and ridges will help crews maintain low to moderate fire spread within the area.

The objectives fire managers are working to achieve on this incident include returning fire to a fire-adapted ecosystem, reducing accumulated fuels on the forest floor, recycling of nutrients into the soil, enhancing wildlife habitat and protecting the area from future high-intensity wild fires. To help accomplish these objectives, fire crews are removing vegetation, also known as prepping, around designated perimeter roads known as Management Action Points (MAPs) where actions will be taken to slow, redirect or prevent fire spread.

Crews continue to prep fuels along the planning area boundary Forest Service Road (FSR) 214 on the north, FSR 206 on the east, FSR 293 on the south and FSR 250 on the west, in preparation of possible black line operations as well as to monitor the current fire behavior.

On June 20 a type three team took over the fire, there are now around 115 firefighters working on the fire under the direction of the incident commander for the fire James Pettit, a Williams Ranger District Fire Management Officer for Kaibab National Forest.

The weather forecasts show hot and dry conditions are expected to continue into early next week and the Forest Service is expecting fire activity to increase as fuels continue to dry in the area.

There may be visible smoke from Highway 67 and Highway 89A. At this time, there are no road closures in effect. Motorists are reminded to exercise caution when in the area.

More information or to get fire activity updates and maps 24 hours-a-day can be found at the fire information line at (928) 635-8311 or from the Inciweb: inciweb.nwcg.gov or by texting 'follow kaibabnf' to 40404.


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