Fires Update June 16, 2015: Lightning-caused fires near Strawberry and Mormon Lake, Arizona, being used to benefit the landscape
Release Date: Jun 16, 2015
Coconino NF uses two lightning-caused fires to benefit landscape
Flagstaff, Ariz. -- In addition to the Horse Tank Fire north of Pine and Strawberry, Arizona, fire managers on the Coconino National Forest are utilizing a second lightning-caused fire to benefit the landscape: the Camillo Fire located approximately 20 miles south of Flagstaff, Arizona, near Mormon Lake.
The Horse Tank and Camillo Fires are fulfilling their natural and crucial role in forest health and fuels reduction. The forest needs frequent, low severity fire to restore wildlife habitat, promote healthy vegetation, reduce fuels and the risk of severe fire, and create safer conditions for residents, visitors, and firefighters.
The fires will increase in size, but not severity. Firefighters will be conducting burnout operations to manage where and how the fires move through the landscape, maintaining a low to moderate overall severity. In these cases, fire growth is desirable.
Expect smoke to increase. Smoke will be very noticeable, yet still much lighter than that of an uncharacteristically severe fire. Fire managers will be closely monitoring smoke impacts.
The Horse Tank and Camillo Fires are not prescribed burns. Though the resource benefits will be similar, these are wildfires that will be used as nature intended. This means they do not have planned “end dates.” Fire managers have carefully determined larger perimeters within which the fires may run their natural course. As long as conditions allow and objectives are being met, crews will continue actively managing these fires. Ultimately, fire will treat portions of, or all of, the land inside these boundaries
Motorists should be cautious of fire traffic and smoke on Highway 260, State Route 87, and Lake Mary Road (Forest Highway 3). Smoke may reduce visibility and fire personnel will be working near the roads. No closures to these roads are anticipated, but delays are possible.
Horse Tank Fire Overview
- Start Date: June 6, 2015
- Acres Treated: 920 acres (management area is approximately 5,000 acres)
- Location: Six miles north of Strawberry, south of SR 260
- Behavior: Creeping, smoldering across the forest floor. Larger brush not burning due to wet conditions
- Smoke: Noticeable along SR 260 near the junction of State Route 87. Smoke will generally disperse to the northeast during the day, and will drift into Fossil Creek and possibly the Verde River area overnight.
- Closures: Forest Roads 9366R, 9384A, 9381 and a portion of 9361A. These Forest Roads will be closed for the duration of the managed fire.
- Today’s Management Actions: Continue burnout operations to establish perimeters and mitigate fire behavior.
- Inciweb Incident Information for the Horse Tank Fire
Camillo Fire Overview
- Start Date: June 14, 2015
- Acres Treated: 40 acres (management area is approximately 54,000 acres)
- Location: 20 miles south of Flagstaff, just southeast of Mormon Lake.
- Behavior: Creeping, smoldering across the forest floor.
- Smoke: The majority will disperse to the northeast. It is not expected to impact Flagstaff, but will be visible from town. Smoke may be noticeable on Lake Mary Road (Forest Highway 3) and in Mormon Lake Village overnight.
- Closures: The immediate fire area will be closed. Visitors are urged to abide by on-the-ground closure signs, which will change as fire moves through the landscape. No forest roads or other areas are closed at this time. Delays on Kinnikinick Road are possible because of fire personnel and equipment in the area.
- Today’s Management Actions: Conduct burnout operations along powerlines to minimize impacts when the fire approaches.
- Inciweb Incident Information for the Camillo Fire
News, notices, and information may be found through the following resources:
- Inciweb: Coconino NF Incidents
- Coconino National Forest Supervisor's Office: 928-527-3600
- @CoconinoNF on Twitter
- Coconino National Forest: News and Events