Kaibab National Forest plans prescribed fire this spring on North Kaibab Ranger District

(Fredonia, Ariz., March 13, 2026) – The Kaibab National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations on the North Kaibab Ranger District as early as March 17, 2026, pending all required approvals. The four possible units, totaling 6,136-acres, are in the Jacob Lake vicinity and north of U.S. Route 89A, east of Forest Road 248 and west of Forest Road 487. Fire managers will look for opportunities to implement this burn from March 17 to May 15, as weather conditions allow. A broadcast burn is when fire is applied across a defined area or boundary to reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires. This is a maintenance burn, which refers to a low to moderate intensity prescribed fire conducted to keep surface fuels reduced and continue to build a fire resilient ecosystem.

The area may be closed for several days for public safety. A 3.5-mile portion of the Arizona National Scenic Trail may be closed during and in the days immediately following ignitions, with an expected temporary reroute to be announced ahead of planned ignitions. Watch for warning signs along roads near all prescribed fire areas before and during burns.

Residents and visitors to the Jacob Lake area may experience smoke during the prescribed burns. Smoke will be visible from Fredonia and Kanab, as well as along U.S. Route 89A. For more detailed information about air quality, go to AirNow online or download the app. When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights when you encounter smoke on the road.

We will evaluate weather conditions in the hours before a burn begins. If conditions warrant, scheduled prescribed fire activities may be canceled.

Stay informed about scheduled prescribed fires through the forest website, social media channels, and InciWeb, the interagency incident information system. We will notify county emergency management officials when burning begins.

About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.