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Marteen Fire active again
Fire grows to 1,135 acres

The Marteen Wildland Fire Use, 15 miles northeast of Williams, is active again and spreading south on the Kaibab National Forest toward Squaw Mountain. The fire has grown to 1,135 acres. Fire managers expect very active fire behavior today under the influence of strong northeast winds.

Smoke may be visible from Williams, along I-40 and State Highway 64.

The fire started August 7 by lightning and grew to 700 acres before stalling out under steady monsoonal wet weather. On Oct. 15, fire personnel observed renewed activity. Personnel assigned to the incident are monitoring activity and recording fire progression.

A long-term management plan is in place for the incident that outlines actions personnel will take as fire approaches certain areas. Also addressed in the plan are resource and environmental concerns. To date, actions taken on the incident include protecting archaeological sites, preventing rapid-fire spread upslope on Squaw Mountain and pre-emptive burning around private property in advance of fire spread. These same

preventative measures will take place prior to fire approaching private property east of Little Squaw Mountain.

One of the primary resource benefits from the Marteen Wildland Fire Use is the reintroduction of fire in an area of the forest that has gone without this natural disturbance for too long. Re-establishing fire as an important part of a healthy ecosystem reduces hazardous fuel buildup, decreases the threat of large dangerous fires and improves wildlife habitat by increasing plant diversity, according to Forest Service officials.


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